Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsHow Long Flush LastsBenefits of Niacin SupplementsSevere ReactionsMinimizing Flushing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
How Long Flush Lasts
Benefits of Niacin Supplements
Severe Reactions
Minimizing Flushing
Niacinflush may occur after taking large supplemental doses of niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin helps to metabolize food for energy and is important for cellular function. This supplement is often used to treat high cholesterol levels.While uncomfortable, the resulting warm, itchy, red skin is not dangerous.In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietician nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.Alexandr Kolesnikov / Getty ImagesNiacin Flush: What Happens to SkinHigh doses of supplemental niacin in the form of nicotinic acid bring about a reaction that causes the expansion of yourcapillaries. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels that form a connection between the smallest arteries with the smallest veins. This expansion increases blood flow to the surface of the skin.When blood flow increases on the skin’s surface, symptoms offlushingcan occur, including:Reddening of the skinItchy skinTingling or burning sensationSkin that’s warm to the touchNiacin skin flushing usually occurs within 30 minutes of taking supplemental niacin and tends to affect the face, neck, or upper chest.Skin Flushing in Different Skin TonesWhile niacin flush can happen to anyone, people with darker skin tones may not experience reddening of the skin. Instead, the affected area may be discolored or darker than the rest of the skin.Should You Worry?Niacin flush is not harmful, though it may be unpleasant. It generally lasts just a short time.Talk with a healthcare provider If you experience additional symptoms, such asdizziness, a drop in blood pressure,fatigue,nausea,heartburn, orblurred vision.Stop taking high-dose niacin supplements if you are pregnant, and discuss appropriate supplements with a healthcare provider.How Long a Niacin Flush Reaction LastsA niacin flush will usually last for 30 to 90 minutes.Flushing tends to be less severe and may decrease after continuous use of nicotinic acid supplements.How Much Niacin Causes Flushing?Flushing usually occurs after taking 30 to 50 milligrams (mg) or more of nicotinic acid.When taken in higher doses of 1,000 to 3,000 mg per day, nicotinic acid can also cause more serious adverse effects.Benefits of Niacin SupplementsMost people in the United States get more than the recommended daily intake (RDA) forniacinthrough the food they eat.Niacin supplements are often prescribed to treatdyslipidemia(too high or low cholesterol levels). Older studies have shown that niacin may lowerlow-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, considered “unhealthy” cholesterol, levels and increasehigh-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, considered “good” cholesterol,levels. However,statinshave become the standard medication used to treat high cholesterol levels.Supplemental niacin may also reduce blood pressure,support brain health,and improve skin health.Severe Niacin Reactions and Long-Term UseNo adverse effects have been reported from the consumption of naturally occurring niacin in foods.Very high supplemental doses of niacin of 1,000 to 3,000 or more can cause more serious side effects. Most notably,livertoxicity is common with very high doses of niacin. Other side effects of very large doses may include decreased blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, heartburn, or blurred vision.If you experience these symptoms, contact a healthcare provider for guidance.Supplement Guidance to Minimize Skin FlushingExperts have found some strategies to help minimize skin flushing. These include:Change your dose:Taking smaller amounts of niacin may decrease skin flushing.Take a different formulation:Extended-release formulations can decrease the chances of skin flushing but may also increase the risk of liver damage.Slowly increase your dose: Starting with a lower dose and gradually increasing over the course of a couple of months may decrease the chances of niacin flush.Take it with food:Taking your niacin supplement with food (such as an apple)may decrease the chances of experiencing skin flushing.Take it with aspirin: Taking a regular aspirin about 30 minutes before taking a niacin supplement may help decrease flushing.SummaryNiacin flush occurs after taking high doses of supplemental niacin. Symptoms include red, itchy skin around the face, neck, and upper chest. Niacin flush may be uncomfortable but is harmless and generally lasts 30 to 90 minutes.Niacin flush typically occurs when taking niacin in doses of 30 to 50 milligrams (mg) or more. Niacin supplements are often used to treat high cholesterol levels.Very high doses of 1,000 to 3,000 mg or more of niacin can cause more serious side effects, such as liver damage, decreased blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, heartburn, or blurred vision.Strategies that may help reduce the risk of niacin skin flushing include decreasing your dose, starting with a lower dose and slowly increasing, taking a different formulation, taking with food, or taking with aspirin.
Niacinflush may occur after taking large supplemental doses of niacin (vitamin B3). Niacin helps to metabolize food for energy and is important for cellular function. This supplement is often used to treat high cholesterol levels.
While uncomfortable, the resulting warm, itchy, red skin is not dangerous.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietician nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Alexandr Kolesnikov / Getty Images
Niacin Flush: What Happens to Skin
High doses of supplemental niacin in the form of nicotinic acid bring about a reaction that causes the expansion of yourcapillaries. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels that form a connection between the smallest arteries with the smallest veins. This expansion increases blood flow to the surface of the skin.
When blood flow increases on the skin’s surface, symptoms offlushingcan occur, including:
Niacin skin flushing usually occurs within 30 minutes of taking supplemental niacin and tends to affect the face, neck, or upper chest.
Skin Flushing in Different Skin TonesWhile niacin flush can happen to anyone, people with darker skin tones may not experience reddening of the skin. Instead, the affected area may be discolored or darker than the rest of the skin.
Skin Flushing in Different Skin Tones
While niacin flush can happen to anyone, people with darker skin tones may not experience reddening of the skin. Instead, the affected area may be discolored or darker than the rest of the skin.
Should You Worry?
Niacin flush is not harmful, though it may be unpleasant. It generally lasts just a short time.
Talk with a healthcare provider If you experience additional symptoms, such asdizziness, a drop in blood pressure,fatigue,nausea,heartburn, orblurred vision.
Stop taking high-dose niacin supplements if you are pregnant, and discuss appropriate supplements with a healthcare provider.
How Long a Niacin Flush Reaction Lasts
A niacin flush will usually last for 30 to 90 minutes.Flushing tends to be less severe and may decrease after continuous use of nicotinic acid supplements.
How Much Niacin Causes Flushing?Flushing usually occurs after taking 30 to 50 milligrams (mg) or more of nicotinic acid.When taken in higher doses of 1,000 to 3,000 mg per day, nicotinic acid can also cause more serious adverse effects.
How Much Niacin Causes Flushing?
Flushing usually occurs after taking 30 to 50 milligrams (mg) or more of nicotinic acid.When taken in higher doses of 1,000 to 3,000 mg per day, nicotinic acid can also cause more serious adverse effects.
Flushing usually occurs after taking 30 to 50 milligrams (mg) or more of nicotinic acid.
When taken in higher doses of 1,000 to 3,000 mg per day, nicotinic acid can also cause more serious adverse effects.
Most people in the United States get more than the recommended daily intake (RDA) forniacinthrough the food they eat.
Niacin supplements are often prescribed to treatdyslipidemia(too high or low cholesterol levels). Older studies have shown that niacin may lowerlow-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, considered “unhealthy” cholesterol, levels and increasehigh-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, considered “good” cholesterol,levels. However,statinshave become the standard medication used to treat high cholesterol levels.
Supplemental niacin may also reduce blood pressure,support brain health,and improve skin health.
Severe Niacin Reactions and Long-Term Use
No adverse effects have been reported from the consumption of naturally occurring niacin in foods.
Very high supplemental doses of niacin of 1,000 to 3,000 or more can cause more serious side effects. Most notably,livertoxicity is common with very high doses of niacin. Other side effects of very large doses may include decreased blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, heartburn, or blurred vision.
If you experience these symptoms, contact a healthcare provider for guidance.
Supplement Guidance to Minimize Skin Flushing
Experts have found some strategies to help minimize skin flushing. These include:
Summary
Niacin flush occurs after taking high doses of supplemental niacin. Symptoms include red, itchy skin around the face, neck, and upper chest. Niacin flush may be uncomfortable but is harmless and generally lasts 30 to 90 minutes.
Niacin flush typically occurs when taking niacin in doses of 30 to 50 milligrams (mg) or more. Niacin supplements are often used to treat high cholesterol levels.
Very high doses of 1,000 to 3,000 mg or more of niacin can cause more serious side effects, such as liver damage, decreased blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, heartburn, or blurred vision.
Strategies that may help reduce the risk of niacin skin flushing include decreasing your dose, starting with a lower dose and slowly increasing, taking a different formulation, taking with food, or taking with aspirin.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements.Niacin fact sheet for health professionals.
MedlinePlus.Skin blushing/flushing.
MedlinePlus.Niacin.
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Campbell JM.Supplementation with NAD+ and Its precursors to prevent cognitive decline across disease contexts.Nutrients. 2022;14(15):3231. doi:10.3390/nu14153231
Snaidr VA, Damian DL, Halliday GM.Nicotinamide for photoprotection and skin cancer chemoprevention: A review of efficacy and safety.Exp Dermatol. 2019;28 Suppl 1:15-22. doi:10.1111/exd.13819
Moriarty PM, Backes J, Dutton JA, He J, Ruisinger JF, Schmelzle K.Apple pectin for the reduction of niacin-induced flushing.J Clin Lipidol. 2013;7(2):140-146. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2012.11.005
Banka SS, Thachil R, Levine A, Lin H, Kaafarani H, Lee J.Randomized controlled trial of different aspirin regimens for reduction of niacin-induced flushing.Am J Health Syst Pharm.2017;74(12):898-903. doi:10.2146/ajhp160219
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