Pakistani dermatologists have warned that glutathione injections marketed for skin whitening lack convincing evidence of lasting results and may cause serious health complications.
Clinics offer intravenous treatments at around Rs 25,000 per session. Some patients undergo 10 to 12 sessions, followed by maintenance treatments because any changes may fade.
Houston-based dermatologist Dr Sana Zahiruddin said research into the treatment remained limited. “These studies are small and their results are inconsistent,” she said.
A clinical study conducted in Multan examined the effectiveness of intravenous glutathione against a saline placebo. Researchers enrolled 50 women, although only 32 completed the trial.
Among those who finished, six of 16 women receiving glutathione experienced measurable skin lightening. Three of 16 women in the placebo group showed improvement.
Researchers found no statistically significant difference between the groups. Most improvements also disappeared after treatment stopped. More concerning were the adverse reactions.
Eight women in the treatment group developed abnormal liver test results. Another experienced anaphylactic shock, a potentially fatal allergic reaction.
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Meanwhile, Islamabad-based aesthetic physician Dr Taskeen Iqbal warned that promotional photographs could exaggerate the results of cosmetic injections.
Lahore-based dermatologist Dr Amna Ahmar urged patients to address underlying skin conditions before considering cosmetic treatments.
Glutathione is an antioxidant naturally produced by the body. Clinics market injectable versions to reduce skin pigmentation.
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In Pakistan, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has authorised certain glutathione products for other medical or nutritional uses. Those approvals do not authorise cosmetic skin whitening.
Doctors linked demand for lighter skin to social pressures and colour-based discrimination. They reported growing interest in the injections among men, although women remained the primary customers.
Regulators in the Philippines and Saudi Arabia have also warned against certain glutathione injections marketed for skin lightening.
