Absolutely not. Some people misinterpret the niacin flush (vasodilation) as an allergic reaction. While there are similarities, they are not the same. An allergic flush may be due to a local release of histamine into the epithelial tissues, triggered by the presence of allergens. In contrast, the niacin flush is the result of a complex cascade of chemical reactions which, apart from activating specific skin thermoreceptors, produce substances known as prostaglandins (PGD2 and PGE2), responsible for temporary skin vasodilation. The production of prostaglandins is the key factor that enhances oxygenation and nourishment of tissues, as well as the effective and simultaneous elimination of toxins and cellular metabolic waste in the flushed skin area. There is no allergen-related reaction in this mechanism. On the contrary, it is an oxygenating, nourishing, and detoxifying process activated by niacin.
