Game Changing New Natural Help for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is way too common. There are more new cases of skin cancer each

year than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined. Around 6 million

Americans are treated for skin cancer each year. An important new study could

change skin cancer practice. And it’s a natural change.

Ten years ago, a study of people who were at high risk of skin cancer because

they had had a nonmelanoma skin cancer 2 or more times in the past 5 years,

found that niacinamide (nicotinamide), a form of vitamin B3, significantly reduced

the risk of new skin cancers.

500mg of niacinamide taken twice a day reduced the risk of new basal-cell and

squamous-cell cancers by 23% compared with placebo. It also reduced actinic

keratoses (possible precancers) by 15% (Am Health Drug Benefits. 2015

Aug;8(Spec Issue):13–14).

For a decade, no one followed up that study, and the excitement died. Until now.

An important new study of 33,822 people has found that 500mg of niacinamide

taken twice a day reduces the risk of skin cancer by a significant 14%. When

people started taking niacinamide after a first skin cancer, the reduction in risk

soared to 54%. When people delayed taking niacinamide until after subsequent

skin cancers, the benefit began to decline.

The benefit was seen for basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell

carcinoma and overall skin cancer, with the greatest benefit being seen for

cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

This study suggests that taking niacinamide decreases the risk of skin cancer,

especially when taken after the first skin cancer.

This study, says Sarah Arron, MD, PhD, who wrote an accompanying editorial for

the study, “should change our practice.”

JAMA Dermatol. September 17, 2025;doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.3238.