Over the past few years, the Philippine market has been saturated by the drug product Glutathione. This drug is used as a skin whitener in the form of soaps and capsules. There are so many brands in the market and it has been one of the most popular whitening agent for women and men alike. There has been controversies regarding the quality standards of some brands before and I believe it has been resolved now.
Glutathione is an endogenous substance, i.e. it normally exist in the body, that is used as an antioxidant primarily in the liver. It is used as a substance to counter act free radicals that might damage normal cells in the body. Free radicals are unstable chemical compounds that are looking for electrons for its stability. When it enters the body, it can react with the chemical components of our cells since it contains electrons that the free radical need. When the cell is affected by the free radical, it can cause the death of that cell or it can cause mutation that might lead to cancer. Glutathione's chemical structure is composed of electrons that can be readily accessible for the free radicals. It will provide them the electrons that they need for them to become stable and will not cause harm to the living cells. So, instead of the cells, glutathione will be the one which will be enacted upon by the free radicals. Glutathione is a drug that is used in medicine before as a liver protectant. Since this drug is a known antioxidant, it will prevent the damage inflicted on healthy liver cells. It was found out that one of its side effect is the whitening of the skin.
Glutathione can act on the normal synthesis or the creation of a protein called melanin. Melanin in its simples definition is a protein that causes the formation of skin pigments or skin color. This is a natural protectant of the body agains the harmful rays of the sun. Depending on different factors such as race, location, and genetics, the amount of melanin produced in the skin will vary among people. People living in the upper and lower hemispheres may have a fairer skin due to the fact that the region do not receive that much sunlight and melanin production can be minimal. People who are inhabitants of those regions may adapt to their environment and will carry the trait of having a fair skin that can be passed on to their off springs and new generations. Unlike those people who lives near the equator which receives ample amount of sunlight, the body will counteract that by producing melanin to protect the underlying tissues from too much sun damage. People who have traits of having a fair skin may produce more melanin if they are exposed in an environment near the equator but still maintains their natural color. This is called the "tan" skin. When those people living in a region near the equator will live in an environment that is not receiving too much sunlight, their bodies will produce less of melanin but still maintains their dark skin color. Depending on those situation, the body will produce a melanin that is suited for each individual. If the body perceives that it needs a darker melanin color, then it will produce the protein and if not, it will produce less. Now, glutatione will act on these melanin production. The drug will not stop the generation of melanin since it is required to maintain body color. It will just act chemically with the production of melanin and combine itself to melanin to produce a variety of melanin that have less pigmentation or color. Aside from the giving you a healthy liver, it also promotes a fairer white skin. Now that’s sweet. The question left is whether it is effective?
In the practice of pharmacy and medicine, a certain drug should meet a required amount or concentration before an effect would be seen. In the case of glutathione, there is an intravenous injection preparation that will guarantee that this concentration is reached. However, this is very expensive. When it comes to soaps and other skin products, glutathione may somewhat be absorbed but it varies and the application should be done on the time that the body is producing melanin. The exact time is unknown in each individual and therefore it may lead to frustrations. Oral preparations such as capsules are readily available in the market in doses required to have a whitening effect. But, based on the chemical properties of glutathione, it is not well absorbed in the gut and therefore will not deliver the required amounts. Even if you will overdose yourself with it, that will not guarantee of a whiter skin. It will also need some time before a fairer skin will be seen. Glutathione is also combined with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E in order to have a better effect. But still, the vitamins can be easily absorbed by the body but glutathione will not. In this case, the most effective way would be the administration with the use of an injection. But like as stated before, it is very expensive.
Other drugs are available and in the market and people may have heard of it. This is called as N-acetylcysteine. This drug is a metabolic precursor of glutathione. It means that when this drug is taken in the body, it will be metabolized and be formed as glutathione. N-acetylcysteine is well absorbed in the stomach and is used to replenish glutathione stores in the body in case of poisoning. Once, transformed into glutathione, it will act as glutathione which can have an effect of skin whitening. However, the drawbacks of using N-acetylcysteine are primarily, it is a prescription drug (it requires a valid prescription before purchasing) that is used in the management of severe cough. If this drug is used for more than three (3) days, it can cause a side effect in which a person will suffer a more severe cough. Whitening agents are used for long periods of time before effects can be seen and this drug should not.
Even if glutathione is created in our body, its primary function is to protect the liver and therefore it is not produced in amounts that will affect the skin production of melanin.
Fairer skin is one of the impacts of modern day advertisement in the Philippines
This article does not intend to discredit the whitening effects of glutathione and does not point out that the use will not give effects.
Having a fair skin for a Filipino is something but do not forget that our skin color especially the one called as “Kayumangging Kaligatan” is envied by foreigners in our land. Many of the “whites” spends hundreds of dollars just to have a tan skin and we are spending thousands of pesos just to have a whiter skin. This skin color, kayumanggi, is what is given to us and should be proud of.
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