Title: Nicotinamide for Dogs: The Skin-Protection Vitamin That Could Save Their Health (and Yours)

A powerful new study from Vanderbilt University confirms that nicotinamide (vitamin B3) — long recognized for its skin-protective benefits in humans — can dramatically reduce the risk of skin cancer when taken daily. And now veterinarians are taking notice: the same vitamin mechanisms that protect human skin cells also work in dogs, making nicotinamide one of the most exciting new tools in canine dermatology and allergy prevention.

Dogs, like people, are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation that damage DNA in skin cells. Nicotinamide supports cellular repair enzymes that fix DNA after UV exposure and helps maintain healthy immune surveillance in the skin — reducing abnormal cell growth that can lead to tumors, chronic infections, and even autoimmune skin disease.

In the large VA study, humans taking 500 mg twice daily saw up to a 56% reduction in skin cancer risk after their first diagnosis. Translating this to veterinary use, researchers and clinicians are exploring similar benefits in dogs using weight-adjusted oral doses under veterinary supervision. Early veterinary studies and case reports show nicotinamide helps reduce:

• Sun-related skin lesions and precancerous keratoses

• Autoimmune skin inflammation, such as pemphigus and lupus

• Allergic skin itching by stabilizing immune response and reducing histamine release

• Seborrhea and yeast overgrowth, by restoring the skin’s natural barrier and oil balance

Veterinary dermatologists now often combine nicotinamide with vitamin A, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids to optimize skin health — the “Doc Itchy® quad-defense” approach for dogs prone to chronic allergy, infection, or sunlight exposure.

Because nicotinamide is safe, inexpensive, and non-toxic, it’s quickly becoming a foundational supplement in long-term canine skin care. In humans, it’s preventing cancer; in dogs, it’s protecting the same vital organ — the skin — from inflammation, infection, and cellular damage that shorten their lives.

A small vitamin, a big difference — for dogs and the people who love them.