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Dermatology

Can You Use Niacinamide with Tretinoin?

Andre Stone | MD

Medically reviewed by Andre Stone | MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine on August 25th, 2026.

Niacinamide and tretinoin can generally be used in the same skin-care routine, although individual tolerance varies. These ingredients actually complement each other well, with niacinamide helping to reduce the irritation and dryness commonly caused by tretinoin. Niacinamide may support the skin barrier and help reduce redness or dryness for some people using tretinoin, but it does not prevent irritation in everyone. The best approach is to apply tretinoin at night and niacinamide in the morning, or use niacinamide first followed by tretinoin 30 minutes later in your evening routine. Introduce niacinamide gradually and use tretinoin at the strength and frequency prescribed or recommended by your clinician. Reduce the frequency and seek advice if irritation is persistent or severe. This combination is particularly beneficial for acne treatment and anti-aging, as tretinoin promotes cell turnover while niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier.

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