글루타치온 주사 (피부 미백)

Glutathione is an endogenous antioxidant naturally produced in cells. Injectable glutathione (IV or IM) is marketed for skin lightening based on its mechanism of inhibiting tyrosinase — the enzyme that produces melanin — and converting eumelanin (darker) to pheomelanin (lighter). The treatment is enormously popular in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and parts of the Middle East for skin lightening, but remains controversial in Western medical circles where the FDA has issued explicit warnings about safety and efficacy.

Treatment protocols vary widely — typical IV regimens use 600-1,200mg per session, 1-3 times weekly for 8-12 weeks initial, then monthly maintenance. Cost is significant when summed across the protocol. The FDA does not approve injectable glutathione for skin lightening, and serious side effects (including kidney injury, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and liver toxicity) have been reported with non-pharmaceutical-grade products. Patients pursuing this treatment should: (1) verify pharmaceutical-grade source, (2) be screened for kidney/liver function, (3) understand the limited evidence base.