Appearance of liver spots and other pigment spots
The appearance of age spots – especially if they appear on the face or other visible area – can be disturbing and can challenge our self-confidence. Pigment spots can occur in many ages or life situations: aging spots or liver spots appear mainly with old age, a pregnancy mask or melasma before childbirth, and freckles appear due to strong sunlight, regardless of age.
Skin whitening – glutathion in the spotlight
Glutathione is present in every cell in our body, and in addition to its antioxidant role, it can be considered a “fuel” for detoxification, helping the kidneys to function much more efficiently. Although our body can produce it, there may be life situations where it is worth to increase the intake to maximize the beneficial effects. Fortunately, glutathione is able to be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, making it a perfect ingredient for dietary supplements.
The body’s glutathione production can also be increased by consuming N-acetylcysteine. N-acetylcysteine is a better bioavailable form of the amino acid cysteine, which is involved in the synthesis of glutathione after absorption. N-acetylcysteine alone has a positive effect on the human body. It is a mucolytic, meaning that it breaks apart mucus in the lungs, thus making the airways clearer. It is also used to relieve kidney damage due to excessive use of painkillers.
Melanin will be paler in the skin
Both glutathione and N-acetylcysteine have so-called tyrosinase inhibitory activity. As a result, lighter types of melanin (pheomelanin) are produced in skin cells rather than dark types of melanin (eumelanin).
To demonstrate that taking glutathione will actually make melanin paler, a Thai research team has planned a set of experiments.
Experimental setup
The study involved 60 women between the ages of 20 and 50 living in Bangkok. One group of subjects had to take 250 mg of glutathione each day, while another group received placebo. So no one knew which group they were in during the experiment. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks, during which time the subjects were not allowed to take vitamins, medications, or drink alcohol. Researchers also examined the condition of the facial skin and skin on the arms after the first day and 12 weeks.
Results
They published the results in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. Researchers found trend change in 4 areas:
1. Melanin index. Predetermined parts of the skin were illuminated and researchers measured, how much light melanin absorbed. After 12 weeks of taking glutathione (compared to placebo control), the skin pigment on the face and hands also faded, even on the areas covered by the dress.
2. Skin water retention. In those taking glutathione, the skin was more hydrated and retained more water.
3. Elasticity. Although only minimally, but women taking glutathione had more elastic skin after 12 weeks of treatment.
4. Wrinkles. Changes in skin folds were also observed: a decrease in the strength of wrinkles, especially of wrinkles on the arm.
Taking glutathione and N-acetylcysteine contributes to the fading of skin pigments, such as skin spots and liver spots. All this in such a way that even taking them in large quantities on a regular basis does not have any side effects. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of the body also increases, and they also have a particularly good effect on the detoxifying function of the kidneys.
We have already written in a previous article on the renal support effect of N-acetylcysteine (and dandelion root).
Most people use different creams to lighten the spots, or if they are on the face, hide them with makeup during the day. However, there are other ways to lighten pigment spots: consuming antioxidants as a dietary supplement that can fade the color of skin spots. One such antioxidant is a tripeptidethe from 3 amino acids, glutathione.