Glutathione for Sun-Damaged Skin: Does It Help?

Sun exposure is a major contributor of skin damage linked with premature aging or photoaging. Extended durations of exposure under harmful ultraviolet radiations may actually cause dark spots, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, fine lines, loss of elasticity and degradation of collagen. 

Glutathione has attracted a lot of attention worldwide. Its powerful anti-melanogenic, anti-aging as well as antioxidant action for barrier-support are very useful in the dermatological sciences. This is naturally produced by the cells of the body to fight the oxidative stress and protects the optimal cellular functions.

Nowadays, glutathione is available in the liposomal composition with other multivitamins at a premium pricing in the form of oral supplements, topical creams and serum as well as injectables with very high bioavailability. The real question arises here is if glutathione is actually worth the hype and does it really help the sun-damaged skin or not. This blog discusses the various aspects of the working of glutathione skin repair sun.

How Exactly Sun Rays Damages the Skin

The sun rays consist of ultraviolet radiations that can be directly exposed to the skin surface and produce damage. Mainly UVA and UVB are harmful for skin health. They may affect the barrier health by-

• Dark spots formation
• Sun tan
• Pigmentation
• Loss of elasticity
• Abnormal melanocyte stimulation
• Collagen Loss
• Formation of free radicals
• Redness & irritation
• Darkening of blemishes
• Disruption of moisture barrier
• Cellular oxidative damage
• Premature aging
• DNA mutations
• Skin cancer

Glutathione - the Repair Booster for Sun-Damaged Skin

Glutathione is a naturally occurring tripeptide molecule that is present in the cells to support normal functioning and protect them from any environmental stressors. It is mainly composed of glycine, cysteine and glutamic acid. 

It works to repair the sun-damaged skin in the following manner:

Anti-Melanogenic Action

Melanocytes are the cells in the skin barrier that get stimulated by the sun rays and subsequently produce melanin with the activity of enzyme tyrosinase. Melanin is the main pigment that directs the skin tone. It can be of two main types- Eumelanin (darker tone) and Pheomelanin (lighter tone). Glutathione has the power to suppress the activity of tyrosinase enzymes and shift the release of eumelanin to pheomelanin. This action of glutathione is of utmost importance as it aims to:

• Reduce the skin darkening
• Limit the dark spots formation
• Enhance the skin glow
• Prevent uneven skin tone 
• Fade away pigmentation gradually

Anti-Aging Action

The Glutathione protects the skin barrier from losing its elasticity and resilience with the degradation of elastin and collagen fibers of the skin due to sun exposure. They constitute an integral part of the skin barrier to support structural integrity of the barrier and maintain the youthful and radiant appearance of the skin. This prevents the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin that are linked with the degeneration of collagen and elastin with senescence. 

Anti-Oxidant Action

The skin barrier is under a constant battle against the reactive oxygen species that promote inflammation on the skin. These free radicals may be formed in large amounts with extended periods of sun exposure. In order to eliminate these, the reduced form of glutathione in the cell actively works to neutralize the reactive oxygen species and protect the cell from harmful oxidative stress that aids glutathione UV protection. 

Hydration support

Glutathione helps to keep the moisture barrier intact preventing it from any glutathione sun damage and distress on the lipid barrier due to oxidative damage. This ensures the skin stays moisturized and protected with additional hydration support by reducing the TEWL/ Transepidermal Water Loss.

Anti-Inflammatory Support

The eradication of the damaging free radicals suppresses the cascade of pro-inflammatory mediatory and prevents the signs of inflammation such as pain. redness, swelling, irritation, etc. to protect the skin barrier by additional antioxidant support to minimize the worsening of inflammation on sun-damaged skin.

Additional Antioxidant Support

The glutathione not only shows amazing antioxidant properties but also supports other antioxidants in the body such as Vitamin E and Vitamin C. It helps to replenish the stores of vital antioxidants in the body by donating its electrons. It enhances cellular defense. 

Metabolic Support

The liver is the main vital organ of the body where most metabolic processes take place. There are also rich reserves of glutathione which are present in the liver and so it aids in various metabolic reactions of the body in a very useful manner. This promotes overall good health of the body and improves skin cell health too by supporting its cellular metabolic functions.

Available Options for You to Use Glutathione for Sun-Damaged Skin

It is advisable to talk to a doctor to get the best and personalized advice on the possible glutathione based treatment options available. Generally, oral supplementation, topical skincare and injectables are used to boost the antioxidant support in the body. 

The table below describes the various methods of using glutathione to repair the sun-damaged skin using glutathione:

What Experts Say

Experts generally advise to add a daily dose of glutathione to your diet to enhance the antioxidant defense of the body and minimize the sun-damage. You can start by taking a balanced diet rich in amino acids and antioxidants. Daily oral supplements are also a good option to replenish the insufficient reserves of glutathione in the body. Consult your doctor if you have severe inflammation, pigmentation, uneven skin tone or any existing medical condition to get personalized recommendations on the use of any invasive method of treatment for your sun-damaged skin.

Recommended Oral Glutathione Supplements You Can Definitely Give a Try

Glutiford L-Glutathione + Vitamin C Effervescent Tablets 

They are very quick and easy to administer orally by mixing an effervescent tablet in a glass of water and then drinking it immediately. These effervescent tablets are enriched with the Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid to restore the damaged skin barrier. It contains Liposomal - the highly advanced form of Glutathione to support maximal absorption and faster action. 

Glutiford Lipoza® Liposomal L-Glutathione Tablets

The tablets offer high absorption unlike standard glutathione in a 100% vegetarian formula with no added sugar. 1 tablet in a day can be taken either before or after meals or as directed by a physician. These tablets are composed with 600 mg of liposomally protected Glutathione to deliver benefits to the body in a blend with Grape Seed Extract, Licorice Extract and Alpha Lipoic Acid. 

Note - Talk to a certified professional for the personalized recommendations before starting with any nutritional supplement to avoid any unwanted effects.

Daily Habits to Improve

What We Discussed

One of the main causes of skin damage associated with early aging, or photoaging, is sun exposure. Long-term exposure to damaging UV radiation can really result in wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, uneven skin tone, loss of elasticity, and collagen degradation. 

Glutathione has garnered significant interest globally. The dermatological sciences greatly benefit from its potent anti-melanogenic, anti-aging as well as antioxidant properties for powerful barrier-support. The body's cells naturally tend to produce the antioxidant to totally minimize the oxidative stress as well as safeguard healthy cellular processes.

Sun rays emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, notably UVA & UVB. These can cause significant skin damage. Exposure leads to issues such as dark spots, tanning, pigmentation, loss of elasticity, abnormal melanocyte stimulation, collagen loss, free radical formation, irritation, darkening of blemishes, disruption of the moisture barrier, oxidative damage, premature aging, DNA mutations and an increased risk of skin cancer.

Glutathione is a tripeptide molecule found in cells that totally aids in normal functioning as well as protects against environmental stressors. 

Glutathione is a tripeptide molecule found in cells that aids in normal functioning and protects against environmental stressors. It helps by:

• Anti-Oxiant Action
• Anti-Aging Action
• Anti-Melanogenic Action
• Hydration support
• Anti-Inflammatory support
  

It is highly recommended to consult a doctor for tailored advice on glutathione treatment options. This may include certain oral supplements, topical skincare and injectables to enhance antioxidant support in the body. Glutiford Liposomal Glutathione Tablets totally provide fast-absorbing, vegetarian, sugar-free antioxidant support to repair as well as brighten the skin barrier. To protect skin health and enhance antioxidants, avoid smoking and alcohol, eat a nutrient-rich diet, apply daily sunscreen, limit sun exposure and maintain proper skin hydration and moisturization.