The Effectiveness of Glutathione on Skin Lightening: A Review

Abstract

 Glutathione is a thiol-tripeptide with a low molecular weight that is important for maintaining intracellular redox balance. Its antimelanogenic qualities have led to its promotion as a skin-lightening agent, in addition to its exceptional antioxidant properties. In some ethnic groups, it is commonly utilized for this purpose. There is, however, a discrepancy between the evidence supporting its efficacy and safety. The marketing gimmick surrounding its depigmenting properties could be a pharma-cosmeceutical company's marketing ploy. This article examines the different characteristics of glutathione, including its metabolism, mechanism of action, and scientific evidence to assess its usefulness as a systemic skin-lightening agent. Glutathione, in its reduced form, is found within cells and plays a crucial part in a variety of physiological functions. The direct and indirect suppression of the tyrosinase enzyme, as well as the switch from eumelanin to phaeomelanin production, are responsible for its skin-lightening effects. It can be taken orally, parent rally, or topically. Although intravenous glutathione injections are widely used, there is little proof that they are effective. Indeed, the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration has issued a public warning denouncing intravenous glutathione's usage for off-label applications such as skin whitening due to its negative consequences. There are now three randomized controlled trials that support topical and oral glutathione's skin-lightening impact and good safety profile. However, important questions such as treatment duration, skin-lightening impact lifetime, and maintenance regimens remain unsolved. To establish the importance of this chemical in hyperpigmentation and skin lightening diseases, more randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with bigger sample sizes, long-term follow-up, and well-defined efficacy outcomes are needed.