Stocksy
Between the serums, treatments, and lasers—there's always something new around in the corner in the beauty world. Today, we're talking glutathione injections—a naturally occurring antioxidant found in your liver that's purported to brighten skin. But is it too good to be true? We tapped dermatologists Michael Lin, MD, and Blair Murphy-Rose, MD to find out everything there is to know about glutathione injections.
Meet the Experts
- Michael Lin, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist. He is based in Beverly Hills.
- Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Laser & Skin Surgery Center in New York.
What Is Glutathione?
Glutathione is a naturally occurring antioxidant produced by the liver that helps to remove free radicals and toxins.
Keep scrolling to learn all about glutathione injections—from what they are to how they work and whether or not they’re the answer to your skincare woes.
What Is Glutathione?
“Glutathione is a natural compound found in the liver as well as in many fruits and vegetables, like garlic, onions, avocado, parsley, and squash,” Dr. Lin explains. “In the liver, it’s a powerful antioxidant that is used by your body to help remove free radicals and toxins.” Practitioners claim taking glutathione orally doesn’t deliver the same detoxifying results, since it just gets absorbed by your digestive system—thus, the injection method.
What is a Glutathione Injection?
As the name implies, a glutathione injection is a shot of glutathione—or as Dr. Murphy-Rose explains, "A glutathione injection is an intravenous administration of glutathione, a naturally occurring antioxidant made of three amino acids (cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid). Glutathione plays a
crucial role in the body's natural defense against oxidative stress by shuffling electrons from where we don’t want them to where we do want them. This helps to detoxify harmful substances in
the body."
Purported Benefits of Glutathione Injections
- Stronger immune system
- Increased energy
- Brighter skin
The results promised are more than a little intriguing: increased energy, stamina, body detoxification, and—the thing I was most interested in—clearer, brighter skin. But keep in mind that these benefits aren't scientifically proven.
Dr. Lin says glutathione injections are popular in Asia, where women report results like more energy, boosted immune systems, increased sex drive, and brighter, whiter, glowier skin (an appealing prospect in a culture that often holds fairer skin in high regard). Supposedly, it deactivates the enzyme tyrosinase, which is needed in melanin production, though there aren’t currently any studies to prove that.
Here in the U.S., "Glutathione injections have been used for medical indications like in management of cystic fibrosis, certain liver diseases, and Parkinson’s disease. They are gaining popularity for other benefits like increased energy, weight loss, reduced anxiety, improved sleep, and mood-boosting, as well as skin brightening and reduction of hyperpigmentation," says Dr. Murphy-Rose. "It is essential to discuss with your physician if you are considering glutathione injections to determine if you are a suitable candidate for glutathione injections," she emphasizes.
What to Expect from a Glutathione Injection
I was relieved to find that the whole glutathione injection process was similar to getting any other vaccine or shot. Unpleasant and slightly painful, yes, but overall, not as traumatic as I had imagined.
Dr. Lin rolled up my sleeves, looked for a fat enough vein, and injected the glutathione into my system. He suggests his patients start with 300 to 600 milligrams of glutathione (I got 300 milligrams) three times a week. After four weeks, treatments can be tapered to just once a week, with skin results expected in six to eight weeks.
Side Effects
Perhaps the most intimidating part of the entire experience was signing a waiver that highlighted the risks and side effects. Other than the expected pain, bleeding, and bruising that might occur with any shot, I was also warned that I may experience rapid detoxification, body aches, nausea, headaches, mild diarrhea, and chills without fever. In my attempt to be brave, I tried to tell myself these, hopefully, rarely ever happen, signed the waiver, and crossed my fingers that things would go smoothly...and thankfully they did.
Although, I did get a huge migraine the next day in the evening, which could have been a side effect, or the result of trying to drive past the Hollywood and Highland intersection during rush hour.
Editor's note: Since Faith's treatment, warnings have been issued about links between certain levels of glutathione and serious side effects, which include kidney failure and a fatal form of skin allergy, according to board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD.
Aftercare
Any sort of injection can cause bruising, so doctors recommend icing the area after receiving a glutathione shot (try using a cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes to reduce swelling). Once the needle is removed, though, you can likely get back to your daily activities, without any recovery time or medication. If you do happen to experience a slight headache or any pain, over-the-counter pain meds should help but should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.
Risks and Safety
It's important to note, glutathione injections are not approved by the FDA—in fact, the agency warns that there are absolutely no injectables for skin lightening that are considered safe. And since there are no scientific studies that prove its effectiveness, opting for this injection is at your own discretion.
Final Takeaway
Since you’re supposed to get a series of treatments and I only went in for one, Dr. Lin told me that most of the benefits I would notice would be in the energy department. He told me to expect an energy rush in a couple of hours after the glutathione injection. Sure enough, around five hours later, I found myself feeling a type of alertness I usually only feel after a cup of my morning coffee. It wasn’t jittery, exactly, but I did notice a definite increase in overall energy and awakeness (especially at a time when I usually start fading and thinking about what I’m going to have for dinner).
As for general detoxification and overall well-being, I can’t say I noticed much of a difference—though I chalk that up to getting just one treatment. I do feel like my skin has been especially soft, clear, and bright ever since I got the injection; a placebo effect, perhaps, but I’m not complaining about it.
