True and false glutathione whitening effect: must know the facts!

Many women pursue fair skin, but many face problems such as dark yellow skin and spots.

Some were even labeled "yellow-faced women" when they were young.

Why does the skin become dark and freckle?

How can we solve these problems?

Glutathione is an effective whitening agent that can participate in a variety of biological transformations, scavenging free radicals, anti-oxidation, whitening skin, lightening spots, and anti-aging effects.

So, does glutathione's whitening and freckle removal effect really exist? Let's go deeper into it!

Dark yellow, long spot influence factor - melanin

Melanin is the main determinant of the dark yellow and long spots of the skin, and the melanin content of the skin epidermis depends on:

1. The number of melanocytes;

Chronic light exposure causes the number of melanocytes in the skin to triple.

2. Expression and function of enzymes and structural proteins in melanin bodies;

Melanin bodies are the only organelles that synthesize and deposit melanin in eukaryotic cells.

The nascent melanin cells congregate in the perinuclear region near the Golgi heap and receive all the enzymes and structural proteins required for melanin production.

3. The amount of eumelanin and limonomelanin synthesized;

Eumelanin and limonomelanin differ in chemistry, color, and physical properties.

The former is mainly present in dark skin, the latter is mainly present in light skin, and the ratio of the two determines the degree of blackening of the skin.

4. Transport of melanin bodies to dendrites;

The mature melanin bodies move along the microtubules from the perinuclear region to the dendrites under the action of the driver protein and the dynamin protein.

5. Transfer of melanin bodies to keratinocytes;

Melanin produced by melanocytes can be transported through the dendrites of melanocytes to the surrounding areas, entering the keratinocytes, and finally forming the color of the epidermis.

6. Distribution and degradation of melanin in the basal layer of the skin.

The ability of melanin body redistribution and degradation is related to the degree of skin blackening.

Melanin killer: glutathione

Glutathione is a short peptide composed of three amino acids, glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine, commonly referred to by the English abbreviation GSH, and is found in almost every cell in the body.

It exists in the body in the form of reduced form, has a broad spectrum of detoxification, and can combine with various harmful toxins including toxic compounds, heavy metal ions and carcinogens to form non-toxic substances.

Glutathione is also the main antioxidant of human cells, known as the "melatonin link pioneer" because of its excellent antioxidant capacity, which can reduce melanin synthesis by inhibiting tyrosinase activity.

Studies have shown that glutathione can inhibit tyrosinase activity up to 85%.

In addition, as people age, their glutathione levels begin to decline.

main physiological functions of glutathione

Glutathione is widely distributed in various organs of the body, directly or indirectly involved in a variety of physiological activities to maintain cell biological functions.

The main functions include:

• 1, Form an important REDOX pair with GSSG to maintain REDOX balance;
• 2, as one of the most important antioxidants in the cellular antioxidant system, it can protect lipids, proteins, DNA, enzymes and other biological macromolecules against oxidative stress damage and maintain activity;
• 3, under the action of glutathione-S-transferase, detoxification of heavy metals and exogenous substances through nucleophilic attact-binding reaction;
• 4, through the "gamma-glutamyl cycle" storage and transport of cysteine, is the repository of cysteine;
• 5, regulate intracellular signal transduction, maintain normal cell life activities;
• 6, participate in the transmembrane transport of amino acids, promote the formation of white blood cells, play an immune enhancement role;

Modern research has shown that various age-related chronic diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cancer, are associated with poor or absent GSH levels.

Therefore, maintaining a suitable glutathione intake is very important for good health.

Glutathione whitening pathway

Through these three pathways, glutathione can effectively inhibit melanin synthesis or reduce melanin, prevent melanin precipitation, and inhibit spots and dark yellow skin tone.

01 Block and remove free radicals

Free radicals are harmful substances produced by ultraviolet light or their own metabolism, which promote melanin synthesis, so blocking or removing free radicals can inhibit the formation of melanin.

Glutathione has the ability to scavenge free radicals and is able to protect the skin from oxidative stress damage, thereby inhibiting melanin synthesis.

02 Accelerate the metabolism of melanin intermediates

In the process of melanin synthesis, a variety of intermediates are produced, including dopa quinone and dopa pigment.

If these intermediates are inhibited or their content is changed, it will affect the content of melanin and the type of pigment.

Glutathione can regulate the metabolism of melanin intermediates, causing them to produce other products, thereby blocking the synthesis of melanin, and making the skin appear lighter limonomelanin, thereby brightening the skin tone.

03 Inhibition of tyrosinase activity

Tyrosinase is a rate-limiting enzyme in the process of melanin production, and its activity determines the ability of melanin production, so inhibiting tyrosinase activity can inhibit the synthesis and pigmentation of melanin.

Glutathione can bind to copper ions in tyrosinase, inhibit its activity, and remove oxygen free radicals in the body, thereby inhibiting melanocyte proliferation and slowing skin pigmentation.

Experimental study of glutathione

Two trials of oral glutathione in a Thai population by Arjin Pathana and Asawanonda, and in Filipino women by Handog et al.

It involved administering 500 mg/day glutathione to the study population in two separate doses, with the difference being the use of lozenge lozenges in the latter study to enhance systemic absorption of glutathione.

The primary efficacy outcome of both trials was to assess melanin indices before and after treatment.

Arjinpathana and Asawanonda's randomized, double-blind, double-arm, placebo-controlled study in 60 healthy medical students showed a sustained reduction in melanin index at all six sites assessed in subjects in the glutathione group, with statistically significant reductions exceeding placebo at two sites.

Open-label, single-arm experimental study conducted by Handog et al. In 30 healthy Filipino women (ages 22-42 years) with Fitzpatrick IV or V-type skin who used lozenges instead of glutathione capsules, all subjects reported significantly lower melanin indices at sun exposure and sun protection sites, and in a global evaluation, Moderate skin whitening was observed in 90% of the subjects.