Nicomide is an acne

Acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a common human skin disease, characterized by areas of skin with seborrhea , comedones , papules , pustules , Nodules and possibly scarring...

 medication

Medication

A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...

 available in topical

Topical

In medicine, a topical medication is applied to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes such as the vagina, anus, throat, eyes and ears.Many topical medications are epicutaneous, meaning that they are applied directly to the skin...

 cream

Cream (pharmaceutical)

A cream is a topical preparation usually for application to the skin. Creams for application to mucus membranes such as those of the rectum or vagina are also used. Creams may be considered pharmaceutical products as even cosmetic creams are based on techniques developed by pharmacy and...

, topical gel

Gel

A gel is a solid, jelly-like material that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state...

 and vitamin supplement form (U.S. Patent No. 6,979,468). Tablets available by prescription only and contain the active ingredients nicotinamide

Nicotinamide

Nicotinamide, also known as niacinamide and nicotinic acid amide, is the amide of nicotinic acid . Nicotinamide is a water-soluble vitamin and is part of the vitamin B group...

, zinc

Zinc

Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...

, copper

Copper

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

, and folic acid

Folic acid

Folic acid and folate , as well as pteroyl-L-glutamic acid, pteroyl-L-glutamate, and pteroylmonoglutamic acid are forms of the water-soluble vitamin B9...

. The topical cream and topical gel are formulated into a 4% nicotinamide mixture. Dermatologists say this medication reduces inflammation

Inflammation

Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...

 of the skin, thereby reducing acne.

Nicomide is distributed by Sirius Laboratories Inc., founded by Dr. Joel E. Bernstein, and now a wholly owned subsidiary of DUSA Pharmaceuticals

DUSA Pharmaceuticals

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is pharmaceutical company based in Wilmington, Massachusetts that specializes in dermatology products. The major focus of the company includes medications used in the treatment of actinic keratoses and acne....

, Inc. DUSA Pharmaceuticals

DUSA Pharmaceuticals

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is pharmaceutical company based in Wilmington, Massachusetts that specializes in dermatology products. The major focus of the company includes medications used in the treatment of actinic keratoses and acne....

 ceased distributing Nicomide in June 2008 and set up an agreement with River's Edge Pharmaceuticals to allow them to distribute the product under DSHEA in August 2008 but the deal appears to have fallen through. The last time Nicomide was mentioned in DUSA's annual reports is March 2010.