| DERMATOLOGY | PEER-REVIEW
ABSTRACT Background: Skin hydrating and whitening therapy using intravenous Vitamin C and glutathione (Vit C and GSH) injections has been very popular in Asia for more than 15 years and has been endorsed by many celebrities in Asia. To date, there has been no study on the efficacy of intravenous Vit C and GSH injections.
Study aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the skin hydrating and whitening effects of intravenous Vit C and GSH by reporting on patients’ assessment and overall satisfaction after their injections.
Materials and methods: A total of 283 patients who visited the clinic in 2014 were selected for the study. The treatment protocol involved six Vit C and GSH injections in six separate visits, during which 2000 mg of vitamin C and 600 mg of glutathione were administrated intravenously. During the visits, the patients would feedback on any noticeable skin improvement since the last injection, based on the following parameters: skin hydration, tone, and radiance. Skin tone and radiance are parameters used to qualify any skin whitening effect. One month after the sixth injection, patients’ overall satisfaction levels based on a score of 1 to 7 (7 being the most satisfied), were collected.
Results: At the second visit, 206 (72.8%) patients reported skin improvement and by the sixth visit, 270 (95.4%) patients reported noticeable skin improvement. The most common improvement was skin being less dry, followed by increased radiance. The mean satisfaction score given was 4.99 and most patients (n=90, 31.8%) reported 5 on the scale of 1 to 7.
Conclusion: Most patients perceived noticeable skin enhancement and whitening after six Vit C and GSH injections and most patients are satisfied with the results.
reduction in sebaceous glands. Therefore, even without UV radiation exposure, as a person ages, their skin will look thinner, paler, more wrinkled, and drier. Genetically, men have a thicker epidermis, connective tissue matrix, and higher sebaceous gland density, therefore the signs of intrinsic aging tend to be less pronounced compared to a woman of the same age. UV irradiation leads to extrinsic skin aging by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin3
A . In time the
ROS generate a cascade of molecular reactions that result in mutation and destruction of collagen, elastin, proteoglycans, and other dermal cellular structures4
. Macroscopically, this ROS-induced damage will
make an individual’s skin look dry, wrinkled, dull, sallow, and unevenly pigmented5
. UV irradiation also triggers melanogenesis, hence
resulting in skin darkening and pigment formation. Vitamin C (Vit C) and glutathione (GSH) are strong antioxidants. Their strong antioxidant property helps to protect the skin against UV radiation induced photoaging4–7
by eradicating the ROS,
hence halting the destructive cascade of activities. Vit C and GSH also help to whiten the skin by inhibiting melanogenesis, triggered by UV irradiation9–12
. . Vitiman C also triggers a strong
reparative effect in the skin by inducing a quantitative increase and qualitative improvement of collagen molecules thereby reversing the UV induced skin damage4
In summary, UV irradiation produces ROS and triggers
melanogenesis, which causes the skin to become dry, dull, and unevenly pigmented. Vitamin C and glutathione remove the ROS, repair the skin connective tissue, and inhibit skin darkening, thereby making the skin more hydrated, fairer, and more radiant4–7, 9–12
.
Vitamin C and glutathione For these reasons, Vit C and GSH are commonly found in topical cosmetic creams for skin repair and whitening3,8 published a review article3
. Farris , which stated that
a significant level of scientific research supports the use of topical vitamin C for collagen synthesis, photoprotection from ultraviolet A and B, skin lightening, and improvement of a variety of inflammatory dermatoses3
. In a double blind and placebo
controlled clinical trial involving 30 adult Japanese women over a period of 10 weeks conducted by Fumiko et al8
, the
subjects applied glutathione 2% lotion to one side of the face and a placebo lotion to the other side twice daily for 10 weeks. Fumiko et al reported significant skin melanin index reduction, significant increase in moisture content of the stratum corneum, a suppression of wrinkle formation, and improvement in skin smoothness. Besides using topical cream, intravenous injection
KEYWORDS Vitamin C, glutathione, skin whitening, skin repair, skin hydrating, intravenous
containing Vit C and GSH has also been used for skin hydration and whitening in many parts of Asia, particularly in the Philippines, Taiwan, China, and Malaysia. This was the first reported study to evaluate the skin hydrating and whitening effects of Vit C and GSH given in the form of intravenous injections.
prime-journal.com | October 2015 Vitamin C and glutathione
remove the ROS, repair the skin connective tissue, and inhibit skin darkening, thereby making the skin more hydrated, fairer, and more radiant.
email:
parsonsmedic@gmail.com
S A PERSON AGES, HORMONAL CHANGES CAUSE intrinsic aging, while the external environment, primarily ultraviolet (UV) radiation, accounts for much of the extrinsic aging1,2
. Intrinsic aging of the
skin results in the thinning of the epidermis, a reduction in the connective tissue matrix, and a
KEITH ONG, MBBS, Medical Director, Family Physician, Parsons Medical Clinic, Pacific Healthcare Holdings, Singapore;
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