Why Glutathione should be in your skincare routine | by Dr. Natalie Waller, ND. This summer’s smokey-skies and new Covid climate have me thinking a lot lately about Glutathione, and I wanted to share a little info about this important tri-peptide: Your body naturally produces Glutathione as it’s main detoxifier, eliminating the build-up of garbage from your cells, and right now there is a lot of garbage to deal with…. pollution/smoke-filled air, sun damage and stress, just to name a few! Essentially, Glutathione is necessary inside and outside all of our cells and serves multiple functions including energy production and as a powerful antioxidant. It has also been shown to play a vital role in immune function and inflammation. Glutathione levels tend to be highest in the tissue of the lungs and liver, as those are two organs that deal with high levels of toxin exposure. While the body is quite good at generating glutathione levels naturally, increased exposure to toxins and elevated stress tend to lower natural production levels of glutathione. How does this affect our skin? Well, I always say “you can’t have beautiful, glowing skin without addressing your internal environment”. After all, skin is literally made from the inside out. What’s happening internally (or not happening, for that matter) shows up on our skin in the form of hyperpigmentation, inflammation and pre-mature aging. Some of you may have heard that Glutathione is used as a treatment to lighten and brighten skin. It does indeed! Glutathione lowers the production of melanin in your skin. This is due to the presence of an amino acid called Cysteine. This amino acid has been proven to lighten skin tones in sun-exposed skin. By lowering your skin’s melanin production and by your skin producing lighter pigment, your skin will begin to appear like its original tone without the sun spots. Not only does glutathione brighten skin and help even the complexion by improving liver function and eliminating toxins, it also works to inhibit tyrosine kinase which is required in the formation of melanin. It won’t completely stop melanin production so you will still have pigment, but it can modify production, thus lightening skin and helping with areas of sun damage. Of course when it comes to direct skin benefits, it takes a while. A healthy diet, nutritional supplements and IV Glutathione are all ways to help bolster glutathione levels. If you have ever been thinking about IV therapy, now would be a perfect time to get a treatment. Perfect for anyone specifically wanting to target uneven skin tone or hyperpigmentation. Glutahione IV with Dr. Natalie Waller, ND $90-$135 Book an online Skin Health Consultation with Dr. Natalie to learn more about what more you can do to care for your skin from the inside out!
