When it comes to beautifying
among Filipinos, the word glutathione is already quite familiar. This
antioxidant is said to prevent cellular damage by free radicals, potentially
reversing cosmetic changes in the body such as lightening one’s skin tone. To
that end, it has become a popular option in the beautifying scene to have
glutathione injected to achieve a fairer complexion. Some cosmeticians that
offer this treatment might profess that a glutathione treatment is already
approved by regulatory boards in the country. That is a dangerous fallacy as it
turns out.
As Inquirer.net would have it, the Philippine Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) laid down the law last weekend where glutathione treatments
are concerned. On July 5 they publicized an advisory stating definitively that
they have not given any approval for injectable products to lighten skin, including
glutathione. Thus far, glutathione’s only approved medical application within the
country’s FDA is “as an adjunct treatment in cisplatin chemotherapy.” As the
FDA advisory further states, “To date, there are no published clinical trials
that have evaluated the use of injectable glutathione for skin lightening.
There are also no published guidelines for appropriate dosing regimens and
duration of treatment.”
Said advisory went on to add a
few tidbits on glutathione introduced into the body by hypodermic injection.
There are the expected side effects of such a “treatment” such as toxic
consequences for the liver, kidneys and the entire nervous system at worst. The
FDA also alerted would-be patients to beware of ambulant experts that offer
on-the-spot glutathione injection treatments, since the antioxidant has to be
handled in a sterile environment. Non-sterilized glutathione injections have a
high risk of contracting Hepatitis B and C. A bigger threat however is the theoretical
possibility of developing skin cancer, due to how glutathione interacts with
the body’s production of the pigmentation agent melanin.
Finally, the Food and Drug
Administration advisory discusses a common occurrence in back-alley glutathione
injection treatments. These are often paired with doses of Vitamin C,
ostensibly to buff the immune system. Unfortunately these vitamin doses often
are too much for the body to safely handle all at once. This could result in
kidney stones forming when the patient’s urine is acidic, and even cause the hemodialysis
Stevens Johnson syndrome. Ultimately, the FDA discourages the purchase of injectable
glutathione products. They should rely only on certified dermatologists when it
comes to consulting on potential skin treatments.
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