A couple of years ago, the beauty industry observed an immense use of glutathione for skin lightening and purposes. To many, it is a very new concept. However, the biggest question is about how safe or risky it is to use directly to lighten skin.
You may find much information about how effective and useful it is for skin lightening purposes without serious harm. It might sound appealing to most, but there are many side effects of it. It is very harmful to use it. The skin lightening is temporary, and after a certain time, the skin gets back to its normal color.
What Is Glutathione?
Glutathione is naturally found in human blood, but it is found in a very limited amount. Glutathione is a very strong anti-inflammatory and strong antioxidant. In addition, glutathione functions to combat free radicals, boost immunity, and detoxify the body.
Glutathione lightens skin by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosine, which gives skin its pigment and helps produce melanin. The lightning effects are temporary, and the skin soon gets back to its normal condition and color.
How About Getting Glutathione Naturally
Experts suggest that glutathione coming from food sources is least absorbed by the body. However, sulfur-rich foods are very beneficial in boosting the level of glutathione in the body. Some common examples of sulfur-rich foods are garlic, broccoli, asparagus, avocados, and spinach.
What Causes Glutathione Levels To Decrease?
The glutathione is naturally present in the body, but its level gradually decreases with age. A decrease in glutathione occurs because the body cannot make it much. Its deficiency in the body, along with other factors, contribute to giving rise to many other problems such as
- HIV
- Diabetes Type II
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Hepatitis
- Cancer
Methods To Take Glutathione
There are many ways to take glutathione. Oral and topical ways are the most common means of getting glutathione. Glutathione in the form of oral supplements is also available. Intravenous glutathione treatments are also very popular means of taking it.
How Harmful Is It?
Definitely, there are many ways it is harmful and risky to use it. This is a very new technique, and it is getting popular at a very fast pace. People are taking it without even knowing about future consequences. Let us review the ways it can prove harmful
1. Long Term Effects
Glutathione has been in use for a couple of years. There is very little research and studies on its long-term effects. Support from large-scale studies with rigorous results is needed to establish its reputation as a safe whitening treatment.
Unfortunately, it is least researched, and there is very little known about the long-term outcomes of using it. Furthermore, very little is known about the effects it brings for consecutive and consistent use. Thus, all these facts make it very harmful to use.
2. Glutathione And Alcohol
Research suggests that glutathione improves liver efficiency and helps the liver in metabolizing alcohol. It benefits regular alcohol consumers, especially with alcohol hangovers such as headaches, nausea, and imbalance. These results, however, do not support drinking alcohol excessively.
Also, more detailed studies are needed to establish these facts. Addiction is very common among US veterans, and they get drastic mental and physical effects from it. Mission-Act supports addiction treatment for those veterans who need financial assistance. In addition to Mission-Act, there are many other community care programs vets can get help from.
3. Serious Skin Disorders
Glutathione has long been used in Asian countries such as the Philippines. Glutathione treatment was very common in general spas and beauty salons. Anyone could simply get treatments at spas and beauty salons. However, many have reported serious skin disorders such as skin rash and allergy.
Kidney failure and thyroid issues were also reported, which led the government to ban the use of glutathione. Many spas and beauty salons have been penalized since then for providing glutathione treatment.
4. Not Approved By FDA
Though the use of glutathione is not very common in the United States, its demand is increasing. According to the FDA, injectable skin lighteners such as Glutathione are unsafe to use. Therefore, it is better to avoid it for skin lightening purposes.
5. Expecting And Nursing Women
Experts are not sure how glutathione might influence women who are pregnant or are breastfeeding. It is extremely risky for women who are either pregnant or are feeding children. The glutathione might even possibly lead to an imbalance in hormones.
Having said that, more research is needed in this regard to see how glutathione acts in the body of a pregnant and nursing woman
6. Glutathione Sensitivity
It is less known to test whether the person is glutathione sensitive or not. If a person who gets glutathione treatment is sensitive to it, then it can give rise to many health issues. For this reason, glutathione treatment is not advisable for pregnant and nursing women.
7. Lowers Zinc Level
Studies have found that taking glutathione over and over again for certainly long periods of time leads to zinc deficiency in the body. Zinc is an essential nutrient that the body needs to perform many cellular functions. Its deficiency directly influences the immune system and wound healing.
8. Harms For Asthma Patient
Inhaled glutathione is very harmful to someone who is suffering from Asthma. There are higher risks that inhaled glutathione can trigger Asthma attacks in such people. Therefore, people who are dealing with any chronic condition should be extra cautious about glutathione treatment.
It is because very little is known about the way glutathione interacts with other medications, supplements, and even other medical conditions.
Take Away
The use of glutathione in different forms is getting popular with time. Its use is more common in Asians and Africans. There is very little known about the outcomes of glutathione whitening treatment. This makes it very risky to use. Moreover, the consecutive and frequent intake may even lead to abnormal levels of glutathione in the body that can be devastating to health.