Safety and side effects

Is glutathione safe? Side effects, who should avoid it and how to spot fakes

For most people using a cream or a standard supplement, glutathione sits well. The form you choose makes the biggest difference. Putting it on your skin is the lowest-risk way to use it, and when a cream does cause trouble it's usually mild redness, itching or dryness, often from the fragrance or another ingredient. Patch test behind your ear or on your inner arm and wait 24 to 48 hours before using it properly. Tablets are generally well tolerated too, with bloating, gas or loose stools the usual complaints. Our side effects guide goes form by form.

Some people need a doctor's go-ahead first. That includes anyone with asthma, anyone on regular medicines (especially chemotherapy), people with kidney or liver problems, and children and teenagers, for whom skin-brightening products aren't recommended. Pregnancy deserves its own mention. There isn't enough research to call glutathione safe while you're pregnant or breastfeeding, so avoid tablets, injections and drips, and ask your doctor before using even a cream. Pregnancy pigmentation often fades on its own after delivery, and gentle care with sunscreen is the safest approach until then (glutathione during pregnancy).

Injections and IV drips are where the real danger lies. Reported risks include serious allergic reactions and infections from unsafe practice, and health regulators in several countries have warned against them for skin lightening. India's CDSCO has said injectable products are not cosmetics. Please don't use injections or drips to lighten your skin. They have their own section, starting with price, safety and CDSCO rules.

The other safety risk is a fake. Unlabelled "fairness" creams have been found to contain steroids or mercury, which can seriously damage skin. Buy from the brand's own website, its official store on Amazon or Flipkart, or a pharmacy you trust. A genuine pack shows the manufacturer's or importer's name and address, a batch number, the MRP, and the manufacturing and expiry dates. A price far below MRP is the biggest warning sign. So is very fast, dramatic lightening, which can point to steroids. If that happens, stop and see a dermatologist (where to buy genuine cream).