Skin Whitening Skin whitening is UNETHICAL, it's a lie and a hoax. Dr Feroze DOES NOT and WILL NEVER perform, sell or otherwise even hint at skin whitening treatments.
A HEALTHY you is a BEAUTIFUL you, regardless of skin color.
Whitening treatments don't work. They are USELESS. They are HARMFUL. Do not use whitening CREAMS. Do not use whitening INJECTIONS aka GLUTATHIONE.
The FDA, USA (Food and Drug Authority, USA) and FDA Philipines actively advises against the use of Glutathione for skin whitening.
Click on the links above.
The false notion that white skin is somehow superior to skin of colour, is a fascist social remnant of our previous Imperial rulers. You, the patient, the consumer of Skin Whitening, is to blame for the galaxy of products offering skin colour change, and the propagation of this warped, sick mindset of white-supremacy. Wake-up. Grow-up.
GLUTATHIONE
Glutathione is not an essential nutrient for humans, since it can be synthesized in the body from the amino acids L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, and glycine it does not have to be present as a supplement in the diet. Exogenous glutathione is only to a small extent bioavailable to humans the human body is capable of maintaining a consistent level of GSH. Oral introduction of GSH into the body is, in fact, scarcely effective to increase its plasma and/or intracellular concentration. At the base of its poor bioavailability is the nature of glutathione which, being a tripeptide, is the substrate of proteases (peptidases) of the alimentary canal, and the absence of a specific carrier of glutathione at the level of cell membrane.
Glutathione is undoubtedly the most potent anti-oxidant protein INSIDE the cell. INSIDE the cell, it also helps in reducing the formation of melanin pigment, which is protective and an antioxdant in itself. Unfortunately, there are no known mechanisms or receptors that would transport man-made, supposedly stable, glutathione protein from the outside, to the inside of a cell, where it can get to work and provide the full plethora of fairy-tale results being promised in the media.
In-vitro half-life of GSH is about 90-minutes, under standard conditions (11). In circulation, GSH is degraded rapidly by gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, an enzyme found on the extracellular surfaces of cells, yielding glutamate (Glu), cysteine (Cys), and glycine (Gly). After intravenous administration, in agreement with a previous report, most of the GSH was oxidized to GSSG and disappeared immediately from circulation with an in-vivo half-life of about 10 min.
References:
1. Allen, J Bradley, RD (Sep 2011). "Effects of oral glutathione supplementation on systemic oxidative stress biomarkers in human volunteers". J Altern Complement Med. 17(9): 827–33.
2. Witschi, A Reddy, S Stofer, B Lauterburg, BH (1992). "The systemic availability of oral glutathione". Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 43 (6): 667–9.
3. Matsuki, M Watanabe, T Ogasawara, A Mikami, T Matsumoto, T (2008). "Inhibitory mechanism of melanin synthesis by glutathione". Yakugaku Zasshi. 128 (8): 1203–7.
4. Jara, J. R. Aroca, P Solano, F Martinez, J. H. Lozano, J. A. (1988). "The role of sulfhydryl compounds in mammalian melanogenesis: The effect of cysteine and glutathione upon tyrosinase and the intermediates of the pathway". Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 967(2): 296–303.5. FDA Philipines Advisory No. 2019-182 || UNSAFE USE OF GLUTATHIONE AS SKIN LIGHTENING AGENT. https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-advisory-no-2019-182-unsafe-use-of-glutathione-as-skin-lightening-agent/
6. FDA Advisory No.2023-0097 || Public Health Warning Against the Purchase and Use of Unauthorized Cosmetic PRIME GLUTATHIONE HYALURONIC ACID BODY LOTION. https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-advisory-no-2023-0097-public-health-warning-against-the-purchase-and-use-of-unauthorized-cosmetic-prime-glutathione-hyaluronic-acid-body-lotion/
7. Sonthalia S, Jha AK, Lallas A, Jain G, Jakhar D. Glutathione for skin lightening: a regnant myth or evidence-based verity? Dermatol Pract Concept. 20188(1):15-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.0801a04.
8. Glutathione as a skin whitening agent: Facts, myths, evidence and controversies. Sonthalia S, Daulatabad D, Sarkar R. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2016 May-Jun82(3):262-72. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.179088. PMID: 27088927
9. Glutathione Whitening Pills Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: An Unusual Case Confirmed by Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Natcha Chottawornsak, Nat Tansrisawad, Apinya Tubtimrattana, Pattarawat Thantiworasit 2, Pravit Asawanonda, Jettanong Klaewsongkram, Pawinee Rerknimitr. PMID: 34608063
10. Pharmacokinetics of Glutathione and Its Metabolites in Normal Subjects. Sae-Yong Hong, Hyo-Wook Gil, Jong-Oh Yang, Eun-Young Lee,corresponding author Hyung-Kee Kim, Soo-Hyun Kim, Young-Ho Chung, Soo-Kyung Hwang, and Zee-Won Lee. J Korean Med Sci. 2005 Oct 20(5): 721–726. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2779265/
11. https://bionumbers.hms.harvard.edu/
Side effects of Glutathione Injections
Skin whitening (the most famous and most unpredictable side effect!)
Hair loss
White spots on the nails
Numbness of extremities Shivers and shakes
Depression (with or without suicidal ideation)
Anxiety
Complications of Glutathione Injections
Allergy or Anaphylaxis ( manifested by difficulty of breathing,tightness of chest, rashes, hives,and swollen skin)
Systemic Infection
Stevens–Johnson Syndrome
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or Lyell’s Syndrome
Kidney Failure
Thyroid Dysfucntion
Severe abdominal pain
Contraindications of Glutathione Injections
Never use for people under chemotherapy. It may decrease the potency of anti-cancer drugs.
Not advised for people with chronic kidney failure and liver problem because it may cause digestive complications such as severe pain and persistent diarrhea.
Do not use during pregnancy and breastfeeding,
May worsen asthmatic episodes, thus it is not recommend for asthmatic individuals.
The use of this drug should always be closely monitored by a medical professional.
Do not self administer, always consult an expert for a proper assessment and accurate advice.
This substance does not promise absolute results for anyone.
Always seek medical advice.
