Two molecules, one pathway but very different levels of impact
Niacinamide is everywhere in skincare. It is reliable, gentle, and well understood. It supports the barrier, helps even tone, and keeps oil balanced. But underneath its popularity is a deeper biochemical pathway that leads to something far more fundamental to skin health: NAD⁺ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide).
Niacinamide can help the skin.
NAD⁺ helps the skin function.
At DERMA-CODE™, our focus is on molecules that support biology at its roots. That is why we treat niacinamide and NAD⁺ as partners, not competitors, with NAD⁺ carrying the heavier load inside our Tri-Active System.
How the two are connected inside the skin
Niacinamide is a precursor.
Your cells convert it into NAD⁺ through several enzymatic steps. That conversion supports overall resilience, but it depends on healthy cellular energy and efficiency.
When skin is stressed, inflamed, aging, or environmentally depleted, those conversion steps slow down. In those circumstances, topical niacinamide still helps the barrier, but it does not always translate into the meaningful rise in NAD⁺ that deeper repair requires.
NAD⁺ is the final, active coenzyme.
It supports:
• energy production
• DNA repair
• cellular communication
• antioxidant defense
Delivering NAD⁺ directly allows the skin to bypass the conversion process, which becomes especially important as the skin ages or faces chronic stress.
Why stabilized NAD⁺ is such a leap forward
For a long time, NAD⁺ was avoided in cosmetic formulation because it oxidizes quickly and breaks down under light or heat. Most brands simply could not keep it active inside a formula.
We focused on solving that problem.
Through controlled stabilization and the protective environment of our Tri-Active System, NAD⁺ remains structurally intact and functional inside both DERMA-CODE™ formulas. This allows the skin to access NAD⁺ directly, without relying heavily on conversion steps that may be slowed by age or stress.
If niacinamide supports potential energy,
NAD⁺ delivers usable energy.
How they compare in real-world skin behavior
Niacinamide
• precursor to NAD⁺
• barrier support
• helps tone and oil balance
• widely tolerated
• may plateau as conversion efficiency slows with age
NAD⁺
• active coenzyme
• supports mitochondrial energy
• helps maintain cellular repair and resilience
• improves visible vitality
• requires precise stabilization to stay active
Both matter. Their roles are simply not the same.
Short- and long-term effects
Niacinamide (short-term)
• better surface hydration
• reduced visible redness
• more even tone
Niacinamide (long-term)
• strengthened barrier
• steady antioxidant support
• gradual benefits that depend on conversion efficiency
NAD⁺ (short-term)
• improved comfort
• a quieter, healthier glow
• more balanced texture due to efficient energy signaling
NAD⁺ (long-term)
• supports DNA repair pathways
• maintains youthful function under environmental stress
• helps the skin stay resilient without irritation
Limitations, kept honest:
• NAD⁺ must be stabilized or it becomes inactive
• results build gradually
• consistency matters
Why DERMA-CODE™ uses both
We use niacinamide because it strengthens the surface and naturally feeds the NAD⁺ pathway.
We use NAD⁺ because it fuels the deeper processes that keep skin functioning well.
Our formulas reflect this balance:
• PDRN + NAD⁺ Facial Serum: 5 percent Niacinamide, 1 percent NAD⁺
• Universal Barrier Support Moisturizer: 2 percent Niacinamide, 0.7 percent NAD⁺
Together, they support both the precursor pathway and the active coenzyme pathway. It is a layered strategy designed for long-term comfort and performance across all skin types.
How the Tri-Active System protects NAD⁺
NAD⁺ is delicate. Peptides are delicate. PDRN is delicate.
Most bases break them down.
The Tri-Active System creates a controlled micro-environment that shields each active from oxidation and pH imbalance. It keeps:
• NAD⁺ stable
• PDRN protected
• peptides structurally intact
This allows all three to work in harmony instead of being weakened by the formula itself.
When skincare respects biology, skin performs better.
A more intelligent way forward
Niacinamide is not outdated. It is simply one part of a larger biochemical picture.
NAD⁺ represents the next step, the move toward supporting repair from the inside out rather than only treating the surface. At DERMA-CODE™, that balance is essential: molecules that feel good immediately, and molecules that make a difference long-term.
Everything we create is meant to honor skin biology, not overwhelm it.
We earn trust through results, not promises.
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