There is an injectable drug that one is given to lighten the skin. It seems to be the newest thing around town.

Glutathione has been used as a skin-lightening product in the cosmetics industry and is popular in Asian countries such as Japan and the Philippines, where it is also sold as a skin-whitening soap.

It works by preventing the production of the skin pigment, melanin. Melanin is produced within the skin in cells called melanocytes. It is said to be the main determinant of the skin colour of dark-skinned people.

It is said that skin colour adapts to sunlight irradiation. Thus, areas with higher UV radiation which are closer to the equator have darker skinned people. By preventing the formation of Melanin, Glutathione increases exposure to UVR, leading to DNA damage, which is associated with increased risk of skin cancer.

However, in spite of its potential negative effects, Glutathione exists as an antioxidant in animals, and plants among others and is therefore useful in the prevention of damage of various structures found in the cell. It preserves antioxidants levels like vitamin C and E in the body.

Glutathione is produced naturally by the body and mostly by the liver. Due to various processes in the body and exposure, substances called free radicals are produced.

These if not well regulated increase one’s risk of suffering diseases like cancer. Glutathione serves to protect the body against these antioxidants.

In fact low glutathione levels are commonly observed in wasting and negative nitrogen balance as is found in patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, cancer, overtraining athletes, trauma, and burns among other conditions. Some research has shown that glutathione is given to protect against the effects of anticancer medicines.

It has also been used to treat male infertility, asthma, heart disease, cataracts, glaucoma, alcoholism, liver disease, Parkinson’s diseases, memory loss, and lung diseases more so in patients with HIV among others. Patients with kidney problems and are undergoing haemodialysis have also been given glutathione.