How Much Glutathione to Take for Skin Whitening to See Results Quickly

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If you’ve been looking into natural ways to treat dark spots and skin pigmentation, you’ve probably come across glutathione a few times.

This ingredient is revered for how it lightens and brightens skin color and tone, which is why more and more people have been turning to it lately.

However, while there may be no doubt about glutathione’s efficacy as a skin whitening agent, knowing how much glutathione to take for skin whitening to achieve the results that you’re seeking is where it gets confusing.

Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Whether you plan on taking oral glutathione supplements, intravenous glutathione injections, or topical oxidized glutathione, we’re here to share all the dosage information you need.

What is Glutathione & What Are its Beauty Benefits?

Woman taking gluta pills for her skincare

Before we get started, let’s quickly discuss what glutathione is and its main skincare benefits.

Glutathione is a strong antioxidant that’s naturally produced by our bodies.

It’s made up of three amino acids. Amino acids combine in different patterns to make all of the proteins in the body. One unique thing about glutathione is that the body is able to make it in the liver, which is not true of most antioxidants.

It is used for several biological processes, where several diseases, including metabolic disorders, asthma, cancer, fatty liver disease, and autism spectrum disorders, have been associated with low glutathione levels [1].

This is why glutathione therapy is commonly utilized in the medical field.

When it comes to the skin, take glutathione as a skin brightening agent. It works by inhibiting the tyrosinase enzyme.

This enzyme triggers melanin synthesis, which is the pigment that gives your skin its color, as well as its discoloration. Due to its tyrosinase inhibition, glutathione is able to bring about a lighter skin tone giving you glowing skin.

However, that’s not all. As a powerful antioxidant, glutathione also offers important antiaging and antimelanogenic effects. By increasing glutathione levels in your body, you’ll also stimulate collagen and elastin production.

The result? A big improvement in skin elasticity means smoother, firmer, tighter, and healthy skin.

Glutathione is often found in skin brightening creams. Read our best skin whitening cream review and find out which cream would be the best for you.

Does Regular Use of Glutathione Lighten Skin Permanently? Here’s the Clinical Trial Research Evidence + Before and After Results/ Reviews

There are a number of studies out there that have confirmed the general skin lightening effect that glutathione has [2]. This research also backs up the ingredient’s anti-aging benefits.

The before & after photos that we viewed completely support this – everything from acne marks to melasma becomes less noticeable after regular use of glutathione. Which means it helps make your skin smooth. You’ll see some amazing testimonials on social media!

That said, the research also shows that dosage greatly influences how effective glutathione is, making it important to get this right if you want to see solid results.

How Much Glutathione to Take for Skin Whitening

So, how much glutathione to take for skin whitening? Glutathione doses vary depending on how you plan on using the ingredient. Here are the three most common options:

Oral Supplement Tablets: How Many Mg of Glutathione Should I Take Per Day in Capsule Form?

how much glutathione to take for skin whitening

The oral administration of glutathione capsules is one of the most popular ways to take the ingredient. The recommended dosage is 20-40mg of glutathione per kg of body mass. This should be taken daily, either in one go or split into two doses.

How long you take glutathione for depends on your skin color. Those with light-medium brown skin will see results after 1-3 months. If you have dark brown skin, you’ll need to take it for 3-6 months.

Those of you with very dark skin/ black skin may need to take it for up to 12 months before the skin brightening works.

Combining glutathione supplementation with other oral antioxidants, particularly vitamin C, has been proven to help the ingredient work to a greater extent.

Topical Glutathione & Vitamin C Products to Reduce Melanin Production and Clear Hyperpigmentation

A topical glutathione solution, either in the form of a serum or a cream, is often the best way to treat your skin. With this method, the powerful antioxidant is directly absorbed into the skin, rather than having to first deal with the harsh conditions of your digestive system.

Dosage is easy – simply look for a product that lists glutathione near the top of its ingredient list. Again, combining it with ascorbic acid, alpha lipoic acid as well as vitamin E, will bring you better results.

Intravenous glutathione injections, recommended for maximum skin lightening benefits, is a procedure that will need to be carried out by a professional.

Woman having IV drip

A glutathione injection usually provides a higher dose than oral glutathione supplements. This could range between 600-1200mg, depending on what your doctor advises.

You’ll need to take 1-3 injections a week.

Is Glutathione Safe? Information on Safety Levels & Side Effects

When it comes to intravenous glutathione, there have been a few significant adverse effects reported. However, these have all been related to issues with other ingredients in the injection. When pure glutathione is used, side effects are very rare.

In terms of oral supplements, there isn’t much information out there related to side effects. Long-term usage has been linked to lowered zinc levels, which is why you should only take glutathione for a few months at a time. If you’re concerned, speak to your doctor before taking oral glutathione.

FAQ:

Q: Does glutathione lighten skin?

Yes, glutathione is a powerful skin lightening agent.

Q: How long does glutathione take to work to whiten skin?

Glutathione takes anywhere between 1-12 months to whiten skin. It takes longer to have an effect on dark brown skin and very dark skin.

Q: Is glutathione skin lightening permanent?

No, glutathione’s effects aren’t permanent. If you stop taking it, then your skin color could darken again.

Q: Glutathione for skin whitening dosage – how many glutathione tablets should I take?

Aim to take between 20-40mg of glutathione per kg of your body mass. The number of tablets this equates to will depend on how strong those tablets are.

Q: How often should you take glutathione?

Glutathione should be taken daily.

Q: What happens if you take too much glutathione?

Taking too much glutathione can cause the levels of zinc in your body to drop. This is an important mineral, so a zinc deficiency can lead to a number of health issues.

Q: What happens when you stop taking glutathione?

If you stop taking glutathione, then its skin lightening effects also stop.

Q: When is the best time to take glutathione – morning or evening?

For maximum absorption and the best skin lightening results, glutathione is best taken at night. Ideally, wait 2-3 hours after your last meal before taking glutathione.

Q: Do skin lightening pills work when they contain n-glutathione?

Yes, n-glutathione basically consists of the main compound within glutathione that has skin lightening effects.

Q: Is sublingual glutathione a good way to take glutathione?

Yes, glutathione taken sublingually will be absorbed well by the body [3].

Q: Can I take 1000 mg of glutathione?

Yes, it’s safe to take 1000mg of glutathione if your body weight is over 25kg.

Pretty woman having a cup of her tea in the morning

Conclusion

Some skin lightening ingredients can be downright dangerous, which is why it always feels like a big breakthrough when a natural ingredient has been confirmed as a safe and effective way to whiten the skin.

So long as you do all of your research when it comes to the different methods of taking glutathione, along with your various dosage options, this is an ingredient that could soon be making a huge difference to your skin.

ALSO READ: Glutathione Suppositories

References

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7196133/
[2] https://www.longdom.org/proceedings/glutathione-supplement-for-skin-lightening-and-antiageing-3891.html
[3] https://www.graphyonline.com/archives/IJCND/2018/IJCND-134/

Avatar for Megan Foley

Megan has been a freelance writer and editor since 2016. In that time, she’s penned a diverse collection of articles for online publication, with a focus on skincare and beauty. From in-depth product reviews to concise marketing content, Megan is passionate about developing content that informs, entertains, and inspires.