Does Glutathione Really Work for Skin Whitening?

The skin tone of the body is one of the most apparent characteristics of a person. Melanin is the vital pigment which is responsible for the color of the skin. This is the major pigment that determines the color of the hair, eyes and skin. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that plays an important role in many cellular functions that support skin brightening by influencing the melanin production.

You should always be clear that glutathione skin whitening and skin brightening are two different things. Skin whitening refers to making the skin fairer whereas skin brightening means making the skin more clear, radiant and healthy. 

Understanding the relationship between glutathione and melanin can actually help us figure out the best way to minimize the dull skin, dark patches, uneven skin tone as well as bring back the natural radiance of the skin. 

Melanin: The Major Skin Pigment

Melanin is basically a natural pigment which is produced mostly by melanocytes. These are normally found throughout the skin. The epidermis is basically the skin's outermost layer with melanocytes concentrated in its basal layer. 

Melanocytes generally synthesize eumelanin using the enzyme tyrosinase. The eumelanin is then transported to melanosomes. These pigment-containing structures are then transmitted to the skin's uppermost layer of cells, known as keratinocytes to form the darker skin tone.

Melanin in the skin acts as a defensive mechanism to protect the organism from damaging solar 

UV radiations by absorbing as well as scattering energy from the sun's rays.

There are two major forms of melanin that affect skin color: 

Eumelanin ranges from brown to black. Pheomelanin is another type of melanin pigment which gives yellow to reddish tones. 

The balance of pigment produced as well as quantity and distribution, contributes to an individual's unique skin color.

Pigmentation is strongly impacted by:

• How much melanin do melanocytes produce?
• The kind of melanin generated
• Size and dispersion of melanosomes
• How pigments are dispersed in the epidermis

What Causes Differences in Skin Tone

Natural skin color is not entirely fixed. It can alter over time as a result of both chronological aging and environmental factors. Repeated skin irritation caused by cellular oxidative damage, which results in the creation of free radicals or reactive oxygen species, increases melanin synthesis. Sunlight is one of the most powerful elements causing oxidative damage in the skin. UV rays from the sun can normally encourage melanocytes to produce melanin in an inappropriate manner. This is also the biological explanation for a suntan. Increased pigmentation can defend against UV-induced cellular damage to a limited extent, perhaps leading to irreversible damage. 

This body's defense mechanism associated with melanin overproduction should never be used as a substitute for sunscreen or other sun protection measures. 

Skin diseases associated with aberrant melanin synthesis include:

• Albinism is an uncommon disorder in which people have pale, white skin and insufficient melanin.
• Vitiligo is characterized by the appearance of white spots and an uneven skin tone. Darker skin tones have a more pronounced appearance.
• Melasma, which appears as brown / gray areas on the skin, can be caused by hormone imbalance or UV damage. 

Skin is more likely to darken following an inflammatory response or damage. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, commonly known as dark brown spots on the skin can result from 

• Acne
• Eczema
• Burns
• Cuts
• Irritation

Abnormal hormonal imbalances may also have an effect on pigmentation. Certain medical disorders, drugs and hormonal cycles can all contribute to changes in skin pigmentation that may be caused due to systemic inflammation. 

How Does Glutathione Work As The Powerful Antioxidant?

The reduced form of glutathione is a highly potent antioxidant. It effectively combats reactive oxygen species on the surface of the skin. This action requires the enzyme Glutathione Peroxidases to bind to the substrate GSH in order to neutralize the free radicals and convert them into non-harmful species. The GSH is subsequently converted into an oxidized form (GSSG -dimer with disulfide linkages) which is kept as an inactive form of Glutathione inside the cell's reserves and reactivated by Glutathione Reductases. This is where the link between melanin, glutathione as well as skin pigmentation becomes very interesting. 

Essentially, glutathione acts efficiently to tackle pigmentation on the skin in the following manner to lighten the skin:

Combats the reactive oxygen species

The reduced active form of glutathione works well to destroy free radicals on the skin through the activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidases. 

Reduces dark spots and blemishes

Tyrosinase is involved in the production of melanin as an important enzyme. Glutathione works actively in order to suppress the activity of the tyrosinase enzyme. It additionally aids in the reduction of oxidative stress as well as cellular damage. This improves barrier health and significantly reduces the formation of dark spots and blemishes on the skin.

Changes the production of darker melanin into lighter melanin

Eumelanin is basically responsible for darker skin color. Glutathione affects the activity of the production of melanin basically by shifting the process of producing Eumelanin to Pheomelanin, which is lighter in color. This is essentially how glutathione impacts the overall skin tone to lighten and brighten.

Approaches To Add Glutathione For Skin 

There are various approaches to add Glutathione to your daily regimen but it is advisable to consult a doctor for the best personalized recommendations on the dosage required to fill the nutritional needs of the body. Here are the methods which are commonly recommended by the doctors:

1.Dietary Modification

You need to add a balanced diet to your daily routine with foods that are rich in antioxidants such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, etc. 

2.Topical Skincare

Glutathione based topical skincare available in the forms of serums, lotions, creams, gels, etc. are very useful to deliver localized action and protect the barrier. 

3.Oral Supplementation

Oral supplements are generally available in the form of tablets and capsules. Standard glutathione poses a challenge as it can get easily degraded before systemic absorption due to stomach acid. There are advanced formulas of Glutathione that you should look for that offer higher stability, more bioavailability, maximal absorption and rapid action such as 

• Liposomal Glutathione Tablets
• Effervescent Glutathione Tablets
• Acetylated Glutathione Tablets

4.Injectables and IV Drip

These are advisable by doctors if the individual has significant post-inflammatory marks, dark patches, severe pigmentation, etc. This method is invasive and can be very painful. It offers maximal bioavailability and highly effective results. This approach requires strict supervision of a doctor.

What We Discussed

Glutathione for fair skin is a misconception. Skin whitening and skin brightening are two different things. Skin whitening refers to making the skin fairer whereas skin brightening means making the skin more clear, radiant and healthy. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that plays an important role in many cellular functions that support skin brightening by influencing the melanin production. The balance of pigment ‘melanin’ produced as well as quantity and distribution, contributes to an individual's unique skin color. Skin tone may get uneven, dull and pigmented with 

• UV damage
• Oxidative stress
• Pollution
• Albinism
• Vitiligo
• Melasma
• Inflammation

Glutathione works in the following ways to brighten as well as lighten the dull skin tone:

• Combatting the reactive oxygen species
• Reduction in dark spots and blemishes
• Changing the production of darker melanin into lighter melanin

You can add glutathione to your routine in the following ways as suggested by your doctor:

• Dietary modification
• Topical skincare
• Oral supplementation
• Injectables and IV Drip

Understanding the relationship between glutathione and melanin can really help us figure out the best way to minimize the dull & uneven skin tone as well as bring more glow to the skin with reduction of oxidative stress. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. Which factors affect the pigmentation on the skin?

Ans. Pigmentation is strongly impacted by 

• How much melanin do melanocytes produce
• The kind of melanin generated
• Size and dispersion of melanosomes
• How pigments are dispersed in the epidermis

Ques. How can I add glutathione for my skin-whitening?

Ans. Glutathione can be added to your routine for skin-lightening in the following ways:

• Dietary modification
• Topical skincare
• Oral supplementation
• Injectables and IV Drip

Ques. Difference between standard glutathione tablets and liposomal glutathione tablets?

Ans. Here is the table of difference between standard glutathione tablets vs liposomal glutathione tablets:

Ques. What are the highly recommended Liposomal Glutathione Tablets India by doctors?

Ans. The highly recommended Liposomal Glutathione Tablets India by doctors are 

1. Glutiford Lipoza Liposomal L-Glutathione Tablets With Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C & E.
2. Glutiford Liposomal Glutathione Effervescent Tablets With Licorice Extract & Vitamin C.

Ques. Which cells are involved in the production and transfer of melanin?

Ans. The cells which are involved in the production and transfer of melanin are as follows:

• Melanocytes are involved in the production of melanin
• melanosomes are involved in the transfer of melanin to keratinocytes. 

Ques. When should I use Glutathione Injectables for my skin?

Ans. These are advisable by doctors only in certain medical conditions or if the individual has significant post-inflammatory marks, dark patches, severe pigmentation, etc. This method is invasive and can be very painful for getting glutathione whitening results. It offers maximal bioavailability and highly effective results. This approach requires administration and strict supervision by a doctor.