Glutathione is a small molecule made in the body from three amino acids (glutamate, cysteine and glycine). It is one of the body's main antioxidants and helps the liver process substances and protect cells from oxidative stress. Levels can be lower with age, illness, smoking and some medicines.
In a glutathione drip, a measured dose is mixed into a saline drip and given slowly into a vein, often with vitamin C. Giving it into a vein avoids the gut, where much of swallowed glutathione is broken down.
What people ask about
- An antioxidant top-up as part of a wellness routine
- How their skin looks (see what the evidence says below)
- Feeling tired or run down (your doctor first checks for medical causes)
What the evidence says
Research on glutathione for the skin is still limited. A few small studies of glutathione, mostly given as tablets or creams, suggest a modest effect on skin tone in some people, but the results are mixed, the studies are short, and good-quality evidence for IV glutathione is lacking. Health regulators in several countries have warned against using injected glutathione to lighten the skin. At 7DMC, a glutathione drip is offered as an antioxidant drip after a medical check, not as a skin-lightening treatment, and no particular result is promised.
For skin concerns, treatments with stronger evidence that our doctors may also suggest options such as skin boosters, chemical peels or pigmentation treatment.