Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are overflowing with videos of influencers promoting the latest tips and tricks on how to make yourself look younger. Whilst many of us will attempt the latest trends, the truth is that they often have minimal real impact. One anti-ageing treatment that is proving it has sticking power, is that of IV drips. They can be used to help with many different symptoms, from feeling tired all the time to speeding up recovery. However a somewhat surprising use for IV drips is for anti-aging and helping individuals look younger. There has been a recent surge in interest and popularity of anti-ageing IV drips over the last few years. Here, we take a look at the most popular anti-aging IV drips, how they work, and what they can do to help make you look younger. We also take a closer look at some of their more common ingredients.
Contents
How do anti-ageing IV drips work?
Skin is the largest organ in the body; it regulates temperature and protects the body from germs but is also one of the first parts of the body to show signs of ageing. When it comes to looking younger, many people automatically reach for the nearest anti-ageing skin care product. Whilst medical grade products can be helpful on a surface level, only a certain amount of product can be absorbed through the dermis. For the most significant and long-lasting results, it’s important to consider how to help your body from the inside out. By this we mean tackling the signs of ageing from within, by targeting the body’s cells and ensuring they have all they need to prevent signs of aging in the first place. This is where anti-aging IV drips come in.
Anti-aging IV drips will be packed with ingredients designed to reduce the appearance of aging. When it comes to getting glowing, more radiant and youthful skin, it’s all about the antioxidants. Antioxidants play an important role in reducing cellular damage and removing free radicals from the body – both of which contribute to the visual signs of aging. Antioxidants can be very helpful for controlling inflammatory skin conditions such as acne. Glutathione and vitamin C in particular, are two incredibly powerful antioxidants that often feature in anti-aging IV drips. Let’s take a closer look at them and uncover what makes them so useful.
All about Glutathione and anti-ageing
Glutathione has made a name for itself as a bit of a cult ingredient when it comes to skincare and brightening the skin. We produce glutathione in the body naturally but our levels decrease with age and this can occur even quicker when we are exposed to high levels of stress and when we make poor lifestyle choices such as eating a processed diet and smoking. Although you can certainly get glutathione from food, much of it is destroyed when it goes through the digestive process, leaving oral consumption and supplements lacking. Glutathione is a hard-worker, reducing both the internal and external signs of aging. It does this by negatively impacting the production of melanin. If production of melanin is reduced this leads to less skin pigmentation and better skin tone. As a result, it can help to give the skin a glow, improve the complexion, improve the appearance of melasma, reduce hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, and it can also help improve collagen production. Maintaining levels of glutathione in the body can contribute to not only younger but healthier looking skin.
One of the few downsides of glutathione is that individuals with a history of poor kidney or liver function are not suitable for the treatment.
Vitamin C and its role in anti-ageing
Vitamin C is a staple product ingredient found in many skincare products and for good reason. However, applying vitamin C to the skin only does so much. Administered through an IV drip, it can give more significant results. Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties that help to neutralize the toxins and oxidants in the body that contribute to aging. It can help reduce the appearance of sun damage and also helps with the bi synthesis of collagen.
You’ve likely heard collagen mentioned in relation to skin – for very good reason. Collagen makes up approximately 80% of our skin. We all know that when we get older skin becomes less plump and we start to notice wrinkles and poor texture. Collagen plays an important role in keeping the skin elastic, plump, and firm. It plays a role in helping fibroblasts form in the skin in order to help new cells grow for the renewal process – new cells replacing the dead skin cells equates to fresher looking skin.
Oral supplements or IV drips?
So why would you have these vitamins in IV drip form rather than through food or oral supplements? Oral supplements contain small amounts of vitamins and due to the process that occurs in the gut, much of the nutrients and goodness from the vitamins are lost before they can get into the bloodstream. As such, it can take months for vitamin levels to increase enough to have any significant impact. It’s also worth bearing in mind that not all supplements are created equal – amounts and bioavailability can largely vary. As the vitamins in IV drips are administered directly into the bloodstream via a cannula in the vein, the full amount can immediately be utilised by the body, meaning that much higher levels are received much quicker. Glutathione in particular, has poor bioavailability when consumed orally and IV drips are considered to be the more effective route method of supplementation.
So the big question: Can IV drips make you look younger?
The ingredients in anti-aging ivy drips, such as glutathione and vitamin C, can certainly contribute to delaying and reversing aging resulting in healthier, more youthful looking skin.
However, it’s important to bear in mind that any medical treatment comes with a risk of complications – this includes ivy drips. Although the risk is very low, it is still possible to have an allergic reaction and require medical intervention. For this reason, if you are considering having an IV drip, it’s important to do your research and attend a doctor-led clinic. This will mean that they are prepared to deal with any complications – no matter how rarely they occur – giving you an essential peace of mind.
