Vitamin B3 Prevents Skin Cancers – Australia to America!

Ask people about common cancers and they’ll probably name the big killers. Those include cancers of the lung, colon and rectum, breast, prostate, pancreas, liver or blood. In truth, though, skin cancers are far more common than any other cancer. In fact, the CDC states that many more people develop skin cancers each year than the top 10 other cancers combined. 6 million people seek treatment annually. Most of them have basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Inexpensive vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) prevents skin cancers from returning, according to new research. Why aren’t healthcare professionals recommending this inexpensive approach?

One of the reasons that non-melanoma skin cancers like BCC and SCC don’t get much respect is that they are usually treatable. If the doctor diagnoses the problem early enough, it is usually not life threatening. But because they frequently occur on the face, nose, ears, lips, neck and hands, a plastic surgeon or dermatologist may need to perform Mohs micrographic surgery. That means treating skin cancer can be very expensive and potentially disfiguring.

Mounting Evidence that Vitamin B3 Prevents Skin Cancers:

A study from Australia captured headlines a decade ago because it suggested that a simple and inexpensive B vitamin (B3, also known as nicotinamide) can dramatically reduce both basal and squamous skin cancers.

There’s a reason the Aussies are especially interested in skin cancer. There is a LOT of sun in the land down under. Nearly half the fair-skinned population will get non-melanoma skin cancers over a lifetime.

Dermatologists at the University of Sydney reported on their ONTRAC (Oral Nicotinamide To Reduce Actinic Cancer) trial. Researchers recruited 386 people with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer. When someone is diagnosed with basal or squamous skin cancer, they risk recurrences or new skin cancers in succeeding years. The patients in this study had an average of eight cancers over the five years preceding the start of the trial.

Patients were randomized to receive either placebo or 500 mg of nicotinamide orally twice a day. The study lasted one year. Those getting vitamin B3 were less likely to develop skin cancer or pre-cancerous lesions called actinic keratoses. In particular, squamous cell cancers were reduced by nearly one third.

The study was presented at the ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) meetings.

At that time, the president of the organization, Peter Yu, MD, declared that vitamin B3 was a “major advance” in prevention:

“With this study, we have a remarkably simple and inexpensive way to help people avoid repeat diagnoses of some of the most common skin cancers. With just a daily vitamin pill, along with sun protection and regular skin cancer screenings, people at high risk for these types of skin cancers have a good preventive plan to follow.”

The study was also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Oct. 22, 2015.

An Australian Reader Confirms Vitamin B3 Prevents Skin Cancers!

Q. I am in my 60s and live in Australia. For the past 20 years, I’ve had numerous basal and squamous cell skin cancers removed. Every six months, I’d have to get another check and get something attended to.

About eight years ago, I read about an Australian study on vitamin B3 against skin cancer. I started taking 500 mg twice daily. Since then, I have had nothing that needed any treatment. Nothing!

I began seeing my current dermatologist about five years ago and told him what I was doing. He agreed that it is a warranted preventative measure.

The knowledge has been out there for some time but not publicized, to my knowledge. So now, I eagerly tell everyone about it when the subject comes up.

Fast Forward to Fall, 2025: Vitamin B3 (Nicotinamide) Again Prevents Skin Cancers!

A. The Australians led the way with research on the B vitamin nicotinamide to prevent basal and squamous cell skin cancers (New England Journal of Medicine, Oct. 22, 2015).

The authors concluded:

“Oral nicotinamide was safe and effective in reducing the rates of new nonmelanoma skin cancers and actinic keratoses in high-risk patients.”

Now American dermatologists have confirmed the benefits of 500 mg of nicotinamide twice a day in reducing the risk of skin cancer (JAMA Dermatology, Sept. 17, 2025).

If you have had a skin cancer or precancerous lesion, ask your dermatologist about this approach to prevention.

Bottom Line On Vitamins vs. Cancers:

Vitamins have taken a drubbing in recent years. Many health professionals insist that taking a vitamin is a waste of time and money and that we should get all our nutrients from food. The Australian and American studies suggest that at least in the case of skin cancers, a vitamin can have significant health benefits. When the president of  ASCO states unequivocally that a vitamin is a major advance against cancer, we should pay attention.

Please keep in mind that these studies examined the effects of vitamin B3 in high-risk individuals (those who had already been diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer). Whether it will protect the rest of us remains to be determined. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that nicotinamide might prevent skin cancer or reduce progression of cancer by enhancing DNA repair and improving the immune function of the skin (Journal of Investigative Dermatology, online, Feb. 2, 2012).

Given that nicotinamide could cost less than $10 a month and is relatively safe, it may turn into one of our more useful cancer prevention strategies. You can read more about the most recent research in JAMA Dermatology, Sept. 17, 2025 at this link. In this article we also describe some of the possible side effects of nicotinamide.

A small favor, please. The chances are very good that a friend or someone in your family has been, or will be, diagnosed with a basal or squamous cell skin cancer. We would be grateful if you would send them this article so they will know about this recent research and the historical context. The easiest way to do that is by scrolling to the top of the page and looking for the email or social media icons. Thank you for supporting our work.