The demand for fairer skin or skin-whitening driven primarily by women — and to a lesser extent, men has assumed another dimension. Among the various methods explored for skin whitening is the use of glutathione infusion, a method health practitioners warn could have dangerous implications. ALAO ABIODUN, in this piece, sheds light on the associated health risks, unsafe dermatological Inside unregulated world of non-medical personnel who run skin-whitening drips, spas practices, impacts, and how spas are exploiting client’s desperation for profit.
The quest to look radiant and beautiful prompted 27-year-old Precious to visit a luxurious spa situated in the Lekki area of Lagos State. For Precious, she was motivated by the perceived social advantages and elevated status associated with a fairer skin. Her routine included intravenous glutathione infusions, a popular but controversial skin and anti-ageing treatment.
Her self-esteem took a nosedive whenever she compared herself to other light-skinned women. Her insecurity was so overwhelming that, despite her fears of non-medical personnel injecting people, she decided to go for the intravenous glutathione infusions.
Like Precious, many other women now want more. More bosoms, more buttocks, more Coca-cola-shaped bodies, beautiful and popping skin. But this has come at a cost for some people.
The increasing quest for beauty through skin-lightening products has left most of its users with more dangerous health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, tumours, etc. The process of skin lightening is a thriving procedure that comes in the form of soaps, creams, lasers, pills, and injectables.
The trend of skin-lightening has eaten into the very crust of Nigeria’s high-class society. A number of spas and wellness centers in Nigeria pride themselves as the go-to place for skin-lightening.
Why the craze?
So why are some women willing to go to the extreme to alter their natural complexions? The reasons might be as complicated as the risks. Different skin-lightening beauty methods focus on faster and relatively thorough results, while covering up or downplaying the dangers, which leave the body open to grave health repercussions.
Notably, the skin-lightening industry has always been a robust one, and for decades, bleaching creams were its core. However, the resurgence of intravenous glutathione infusions in Spas and Wellness centers has raised concerns among the medical community, especially regarding safety, dosage, and the lack of regulation around the practice in Nigeria. They are worried by the ethical implications of the non-regulated treatment, mostly administered at Spas.
Enter Glutathione injection treatment
Glutathione is an antioxidant that is naturally produced in our bodies. It is generated by our liver and has multiple responsibilities like repairing and building skin tissues, boosting immunity, slowing down the aging process, neutralising free radicals, and acting as an anti-cancer agent.
It is also known as the “mother of all antioxidants”. As one gets older, the production of glutathione decreases, which, in turn, accelerates the process of aging. Glutathione injection treatment is very simple. It is quite similar to getting a vaccine shot. The dermatologist will prepare the glutathione injection by mixing multiple chemicals based on the skin type, colour, and other factors.
When used intravenously for cosmetic purposes, it is said to lighten skin by interfering with melanin production. However, checks by The Nation revealed that there is no scientific consensus supporting its efficacy or safety when used in this way.
The injection is administered to one’s body through his or her vein. A dermatologist will determine the frequency of the injection. It is usually three times a week in the initial days and then reduced to one day a week. It is believed that one can start seeing the results six to eight weeks after the treatment.
Just like any other cosmetic treatment, there are a few risks and side effects associated with the glutathione injection treatment. Experts say the severity of the side effects is dependent on the administered dosage.
In case of very high dosage, there are chances of blood poisoning and kidney failure.
A Lagos-based dermatologist, Kemisola Ahmed said: “It is largely known that IV glutathione has benefits as an antioxidant, but it hasn’t been proven in any randomised clinical trials that it is safe or effective for skin lightening.
“After an infusion, your skin may look temporarily lighter, and you probably feel better.”
Beyond the lack of substantial evidence, she’s of the opinion that there’s an inherent danger in letting someone inject an unregulated fluid into your veins
She said: “I can’t even wrap my head around how people have normalised letting non-health practitioners inject fluids into their body system. What if there’s an immediate allergic reaction to it? How did we get this careless with our own lives?”
In the Philippines, glutathione IVs were ubiquitous in neighbourhood spas until 2011 when reports of serious skin rashes, thyroid issues, and kidney failure led to a ban by the country’s government, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that injectable skin lighteners were unsafe.
Data from World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that Nigeria has a skin bleaching prevalence rate of 77%. This is the highest in the world. Many persons are unaware of the dangers posed to their lives by the intravenous glutathione infusions they allow into their body system.
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Dermatologists have consistently advised that little enhanced self-esteem for the sake of aesthetics is not worth the risk of bleaching the skin.
“I’ve never seen a society that encourages quackery this much. People with zero training have multi-million naira wellness brands in Nigeria, and after chronic exposure to these shambolic health excursions, they will come to the hospital, expecting real doctors to perform miracles.” Samson Adeife, a medical doctor, said.
A case of body dysmorphia?
Body dysmorphia could also be another issue fuelling the uptake of aesthetically-pleasing outlook. This is when someone has an obsessive focus on the way they look and this is common among women.
With varied reasons for the skin and body enhancement, many people go through the intravenous glutathione infusion process and other medications like pills to have their desired light skin.
Disturbingly, some expectant mothers have caught on the vogue as they take in medications or engage in the glutathione infusion process in an attempt to bleach the skin of their unborn babies.
Body modification is an age-old practice which has taken on new dimensions in recent years due to factors like body shaming, peer pressure, media influences, global beauty trends, and the desire for the “perfect” body.
This has led to a rise in botched surgeries and even fatalities, especially when performed by non-professionals or quacks. The government’s response to these issues has been relatively passive, allowing the problem to grow and enabling entry of more unqualified practitioners.
Our correspondent, who visited popular spas and wellness outlets in Ikeja and Lekki area of Lagos state, noticed a new wave of ‘special’ lightning products and the glutathione infusion patronage by women.
For these spas, their glutathione IV process begins from N35,000. Some others charge from N70,000.
The market for skin-lightening products is vast, with an economy of billions of dollars per annum globally. Among the various methods explored for skin health, oral and topical supplementation with glutathione has gained attention due to their proven efficacy and favorable safety profile compared to other approaches.
The increasing patronage for glutathione infusion is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. Findings by Channel 4 News recently laid bare the alarming scale of unregulated intravenous glutathione drips being used in the United Kingdom (UK) for skin whitening, lightening and brightening.
The investigation found over 300 beauty salons across the country have been found offering these cosmetic procedures – many without any medical supervision – and promoting them on social media to vulnerable consumers.
These invasive treatments are being marketed with misleading claims and in some cases, administered in beauty settings lacking hygiene or safety standards. Consumers have reported suffering serious side effects including anaphylaxis requiring hospitalisation, kidney strain and infections.
Despite the dangers, these procedures remain entirely unregulated in the UK, and injectable products like glutathione are still being sold with ease online and in-person.
Ian Andrews, Head of Environmental Health at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said: “The use of these procedures, many without medical supervision, is extremely concerning and we would really welcome clarity from the Government on when further legislation will be consulted on because existing legislation is outdated.”
Ashton Collins, Director at Save Face, said: “We are extremely concerned about the increase in the availability of glutathione IV drips in the UK. These treatments are not licensed for cosmetic use here and pose significant health risks.
“Unfortunately, they are being offered in unregulated, unsterilised environments without proper clinical oversight. Prescribers and providers must understand that prescribing unlicensed medicines like glutathione outside of a genuine clinical diagnosis and therapeutic need is both dangerous and illegal.”
Spa attendants to clinicians: Desperation from spa owners?
Adeola Adeniyi, a nurse, expressed dismay over how non-healthcare professionals administer drips to their clients.
She said: “These spas are beginning to do too much. They seem to be looking for one thing or the other as a competitive edge against their competitors. Desperation to have a unique selling proposition.
“These glutathione IV drips given are absolutely unnecessary. A healthy diet and drinking water is enough to give you all the necessary nutrients your body needs.
“When is a spa spot now a medical licensed place for drip? Many ladies keep endangering their lives for a few minutes acknowledgement.
“Imagine allowing a spa to administer glutathione IV drips, likely by a non-healthcare professional. What if there was a reaction considering the fact that it was straight into your blood? This is unethical,” she stated.
Experts weigh in
Medical professionals have opined that exposing the liver and kidneys to large quantities of vitamins can place them under significant stress.
There is always a risk of infection with IV vitamin therapy, as any time an IV line is inserted; it creates a direct path into the bloodstream.
Despite this, the drips are on sale and promoted by celebrities, influencers online.
Global Health Executive, Dr. Ajidahun Olusina believes that the marketing of glutathione IV drips is actually a cash cow strategy used by a lot of spas.
Olusina said: “The food you eat has enough supply of glutathione which is an anti-oxidant to mop up dangerous ROS, and collagen is a protein produced in your body. Why are they giving what you already have?
“It’s actually a cash cow strategy used by a lot of spas. If you use the money of that drip to buy tomatoes, veggies, a lot of fruits and eat plus water, you will get more benefits than that drip they are telling you will give you collagen and glutathione. Don’t let these spas dupe you like they regularly dupe Lagos and Abuja elites, “Big girls”, celebs, e.t.c.
“Your liver stores so much. (Except there’s a problem, which will be addressed at a hospital not a spa). Don’t let all these quacks in the name of beauticians, aesthetician, wannabe masseurs and masseuses siphon your hard earned money.
“You don’t need to be infused with collagen. You have it in your body already. It makes a huge bulk of supporting protein structures. What they are doing won’t reverse aging.
“Almost everywhere in your body has collagen, your skin, your hair, your nails, your bones, your muscles, your ligaments, on and on. They will use big words that you need collagen because they know most people don’t know, then get you to pay for what is sitting pretty in you.”
Another medical doctor, Obinna Ossai warned women to be wary of the antics of spas and wellness centres.
Ossai said: “Run from any spa that offers to set lines on you and start fluids in the name of giving you a ‘youthful look’ or whatever they are using these days. Such spas are dangerous scammers and should be reported to the authorities. You don’t need vitamin drips. You can get them from fruits and food. Why are you getting vitamin C drip when two oranges gives you all the vitamin C you need in a day, at way cheaper rate than the drip you are getting? They can damage your liver and kidney. Except you are critically deficient, you don’t need it.
A UK-based doctor, Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya said all the vitamins, collagen, glutathione needed by one is deposited in one’s food, vegetables and fruits.
He said: “If you go to a spa or massage parlour, and they give you a drip telling you it is “glutathione” or “vitamins”, you have just wasted your money; you have sadly risked your life and they have just scammed you by exploiting your ignorance. You do not need vitamin/glutathione drips in spa parlours.
“You do not need “vitamin drips” and “glutathione drips” in a spa. You are wasting your money, you are risking your life and you are being scammed.
“They can use unsterilised needles for you – they can give you HIV, Hepatitis and many other diseases. They can push air bubbles into your veins which can go into your heart and you will drop dead.
“Please avoid drip infusions in spas. I know Nigerians think it’s a “healthy thing to do”, but I promise you, it is not. You are wasting your money. You are putting your life at risk. And you could die getting these drips. Eat well, drink water, take fruits, exercise regularly and you are totally perfect.”
