Can you use niacinamide with benzoyl peroxide?
Yes. Niacinamide and benzoyl peroxide can be used together, and a small study found the combination gave better results than benzoyl peroxide alone without extra irritation.
Why
There's no known chemical conflict between them, unlike benzoyl peroxide and vitamin C. In a 12-week split-face study, adding 5% niacinamide to 2.5% benzoyl peroxide improved results and reduced oiliness faster, with no difference in side effects such as itching or burning. The study was small, so the evidence is limited.
How to use them
Use them in the same routine, or apply niacinamide in the morning and benzoyl peroxide at night if your skin feels dry. Benzoyl peroxide is an OTC drug ingredient in the US, so follow its label directions first.
Benzoyl peroxide is regulated as an OTC drug in the US. The directions on the product's label come first, and Dermo doesn't recommend specific drug products.
Sources
- 1Clinical Comparison of Topical 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide plus 5% Niacinamide to 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide Alone in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Facial Acne Vulgaris · Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021
- 221 CFR 333.310 Acne active ingredients · Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), 2010
General cosmetic information, not medical advice. Written with AI assistance from the sources above; updated October 2026.