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Nicotinamide for Skin Cancer Chemoprevention - 2025 Update

Damian DL
Dermatologic Surgery (2017)

Open AccessJC: November 2025

This 2025 update reviewed the evidence for nicotinamide (vitamin B3) as a chemopreventive agent for skin cancer, including updated trial data and clinical recommendations. The review confirmed that nicotinamide reduces the rate of new NMSC and actinic keratoses in high-risk patients with a favorable safety profile.

Take-Home Messages

  • •Nicotinamide 500 mg twice daily reduces new NMSC and AK rates in high-risk patients and remains a well-tolerated chemopreventive option.
  • •The chemopreventive benefit of nicotinamide requires continuous use, as the effect diminishes after discontinuation.
PubMed →DOI →Full Text →

Topic

Chemoprevention

Nicotinamide, retinoids, immunotherapy for cancer prevention

Abstract

Nicotinamide (vitamin B3 ) has a range of photoprotective effects in vitro and in vivo; it enhances DNA repair, reduces UV radiation-induced suppression of skin immune responses, modulates inflammatory cytokine production and skin barrier function and restores cellular energy levels after UV exposure. Pharmacological doses of nicotinamide have been shown to reduce actinic keratoses and nonmelanoma skin cancer incidence in high-risk individuals, making this a nontoxic and accessible option for...

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Literature review only. This summary is an editorial interpretation and may not reflect the complete findings of the original publication. Always refer to the full-text article for clinical decision-making.