Glutathione Overview: Skin Care Uses, Side Effects & More – Glutathione is a critical substance in our body made from the amino acids, glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid. It is produced by the liver helps to protect us from free radical damage and is involved in many body processes. Research says that glutathione helps with certain medical conditions and has recently become popular for its effects on the skin. In this blog, we are going to learn about Glutathione Overview: Skin Care Uses, Side Effects & more. Stay Tuned to learn more!
Glutathione is involved in building and repairing tissues, making chemicals and proteins required for immune system function and in the body. People take Glutathione for liver disease, heart disease, aging, etc, but there is no solid scientific evidence to support these uses.
What is Glutathione
Glutathione is a strong antioxidant and detoxifier that helps combat free radicals from sunlight, pollution, stress, alcohol intake, and smoking. It plays an important role in many chemical reactions in your body and also helps to detoxify chemicals including some that your body creates naturally, as well as drugs and pollutants. It is formed from three amino acids glutathione, cysteine, and glycine, present in two forms which are oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GHS).
Glutathione plays an essential role in sustaining skin health and beauty. It acts as a natural skin rejuvenating agent that reduces wrinkles and fades away fine lines, and the elasticity of skin. Thus, Glutathione supports brightening up skin radiance and beauty.
Uses and Effectiveness of Glutathione
Glutathione supplementation can help in certain medical conditions, some of the uses of glutathione in several conditions are:
Nerve Damage – Glutathione helps to prevent nerve damage and other toxicities from the cancer drug cisplatin, but it can only be given by healthcare providers.
Parkinson's disease – The antioxidant properties of Glutathione help to protect Parkinson's patients from free radical destruction.
Cystic fibrosis – Glutathione helps to protect cystic fibrosis patients from free radical destruction with its antioxidant properties.
Diabetes – it helps diabetes patients by decreasing insulin resistance and inflammation to better regulate blood sugar.
Cancer – Glutathione is a vigorous antioxidant to fight against free radical damage caused by cancer.
Autism – it helps reduce inflammation and protect against free radical damage in patients with Autism.
Side Effects of Glutathione
Research suggests that the topical applications of glutathione products are considered to be safe and cause minimal side effects, but a huge amount directly injected into the blood through the injection can result in effects like melanoma, hypopigmented patches, reduction of liver glutathione levels, and lightening of the hair color. Individuals who are sensitive to glutathione should avoid, lactating, and pregnant women should get medical advice from the healthcare provider before using it. However, we recommend you consult your dermatologist before using any new product in your daily routine.
When taken by mouth, it is possibly safe when used in doses of up to 500 mg daily for up to two months. There is no solid proof or a lot of information about its possible side effects. When inhaled and applied on the skin, it might cause a rash when applied to the skin and there is no guarantee that glutathione is safe because there is not enough reliable information.
Natural Glutathione Sources
It occurs naturally in many foods and herbs that we consume. If you eat a well-balanced and healthy diet then you probably don’t need supplements. Diets that are rich in selenium can increase glutathione levels because it is necessary for glutathione production in the body. Some of the common foods and herbs that have high concentrations of glutathione are:
- Broccoli
- Avocado
- Spinach
- Brazil nuts
- Garlic
- Legumes
- Okra
- Almonds
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Citrus
- Onions
- Turmeric
- Whey
- Carrot
- Eggs
- Grapefruit
- Green tea
- Orange
What are the Benefits of Glutathione?
Research and studies have proved that glutathione can help to reduce melanin production, which can result in a more even skin tone and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. It also helps to boost the immune system, which can have a positive impact on the health of the skin. But before using any Glutathione product in your daily routine, you should consult your healthcare provider or dermatologist.
How can glutathione help the skin?
It can help your skin in certain ways. There is not enough information about the side effects of glutathione supplementation, the available data comes from small research and studies which make it difficult to recommend its efficiency with certainty. Discuss new supplementation and products with your dermatologist before using them to ensure that it's safe for you or not.
Antioxidant – it is a strong antioxidant that scavenges up free radicals that destroy our collagen, bodies, and DNA and get rid of them so that they can not harm us. Antioxidants sacrifice themselves to save the body. Free radicals can come from the sun, pollution, or smoking.
Anti-inflammatory – Research has demonstrated that glutathione can help psoriasis and eczema, characterized by inflammation in the skin which is the reason why they are often treated by topical steroids that reduce inflammation.
Skin lightening – it can inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in melanin production. Melanin is a pigment responsible for discoloration and dark spots of the skin caused by sun, medications, or certain medical conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Glutathione Overview: Skin Care Uses, Side Effects & More
Question 1. Who should not take glutathione?
Ans. Asthma Patients should avoid using glutathione because it can cause trouble in breathing for certain patients. If you are pregnant or nursing, do not take it without consulting your healthcare provider or dermatologist first.
Question 2. What are the common side effects of glutathione?
Ans. Some common side effects include abdominal cramps, bloating, trouble breathing due to bronchial constriction, and allergic reactions, like rash.
Question 3. What are the common uses of glutathione?
Ans. Some of the uses are Parkinson's disease, Improved insulin sensitivity, Boosting immunity, Reducing oxidative stress, Reducing cell damage in liver disease, etc.
Question 4. What form of glutathione you should take?
Ans. It naturally exists in two forms oxidized or reduced, the reduced form is active, more stable, and what you should take in a supplement.
