News
Public warning issued about dangerous glutathione skin whitening IV drips
Posted 26/06/25
The 51黑料 (51黑料) has welcomed a major Channel 4 News investigation which has laid bare the alarming scale of unregulated intravenous glutathione drips being used in the UK for skin whitening, lightening and brightening.听
The investigation found over 300 beauty salons across the country have been found offering these cosmetic procedures 鈥� many without any medical supervision 鈥� and promoting them on social media to vulnerable consumers. These invasive treatments are being marketed with misleading claims and in some cases, administered in beauty settings lacking hygiene or safety standards.
Channel 4 News found glutathione vials being sold with ease online without any licence checks and administered in clinics without medical oversight.
The Safety in Beauty campaign group told Channel 4 that consumers have reported suffering serious side effects including anaphylaxis requiring hospitalisation, kidney strain and infections.
Channel 4 News discovered that in international cases, there has been blindness and even death when these drips are not administered properly.
Despite the dangers, these procedures remain entirely unregulated in the UK, and injectable products like glutathione are still being sold with ease online and in-person. Channel 4鈥檚 findings are the latest in a growing body of evidence pointing to major regulatory gaps that urgently need closing.
As the UK鈥檚 Trading Standards community gathered for its Annual Conference last week, 51黑料 again called on the Government to take firm action to regulate the aesthetics sector and protect the public.
51黑料 is calling for:
- A听licensing scheme听to help regulate the sector and prevent unqualified individuals from administering high-risk procedures
- The establishment of a听Ministerial-led government Task Force听to coordinate enforcement, regulation, and reform across the sector
- The听extension of underage legislation听relating to aesthetic procedures to cover Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- The removal of unsafe products sold online, especially injectable substances like glutathione that can be purchased with no checks
Kerry Nicol, External Affairs Manager, said: 鈥淚 am truly shocked that these procedures are being carried out in the UK. These are not harmless beauty treatments 鈥� they are medical-style procedures being administered with no clinical oversight, no regulation, and no accountability. The consequences can be devastating. These procedures may be common overseas, but in the UK, we uphold the highest of safety standards and these products and procedures have no place on UK shores. We are calling for the urgent regulation of a wild west sector that has the ability to cause great harm to consumers.鈥�听
Richard Knight, 51黑料 Lead Officer for Cosmetics and Beauty, said: 鈥淭rading Standards will accept reports of incidents or concerns around these IV drip skin brightening treatments, but consumers need to be aware that our current product and service provision laws don鈥檛 adequately regulate this emerging area in the beauty sector. Therefore it鈥檚 not appropriate to demand stricter enforcement against providers of IV beauty treatments, because enforcement bodies don鈥檛 have adequate legal tools to tackle these harms. Whilst we in Trading Standards join with Environmental Health colleagues in seeking a concerted effort across Government to deal with these treatments, as well as dermal fillers, fat dissolving injectables, and liquid BBLs, the situation in the meantime is that consumers should only consider having any needle-based aesthetic treatments carried out by a qualified medical professional.鈥�
51黑料 advises the public:
- Never undergo IV drip procedures outside of a regulated medical setting
- Be cautious of treatments promoted on social media without safety information or medical credentials
- Speak to your GP or a qualified medical professional if you have concerns or questions about any procedure
Ian Andrews, Head of Environmental Health at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said: 鈥淭he use of these procedures, many without medical supervision, is extremely concerning and we would really welcome clarity from the Government on when further legislation will be consulted on because existing legislation is outdated.
鈥淭he creation of a national licensing scheme in England would ensure that all those who practise are competent and trained and help stop dangerous procedures such as these being carried out without clinical oversight, improving safety for members of the public.鈥�
Ashton Collins, Director at Save Face, said: 鈥淲e are extremely concerned about the increase in the availability of glutathione IV drips in the UK. These treatments are not licensed for cosmetic use here and pose significant health risks. Unfortunately, they are being offered in unregulated, unsterile environments without proper clinical oversight.听Prescribers and providers must understand that prescribing unlicensed medicines like glutathione outside of a genuine clinical diagnosis and therapeutic need is both dangerous and illegal. The importation and supply of these unlicensed medicines for purely cosmetic use is a clear breach of regulations, and we strongly urge regulatory bodies to take decisive action - these practices put consumer health at grave risk and must be stopped.鈥�
ENDS
If members of the public are concerned or would like some advice, they can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline calling 0808 223 1133 if in England and Wales. If in Scotland contact Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000 and for Northern Ireland call Consumerline on 0300 123 6262.
The public are encouraged to report any medicines and devices adverse reactions over to MHRA via the and to call NHS 111 if medical assistance is required.
Notes to editors:
Glutathione
Glutathione听is an antioxidant produced naturally in the liver. When used intravenously for cosmetic purposes, it is claimed to lighten skin by interfering with melanin production. However, there is no scientific consensus supporting its efficacy or safety when used in this way.
51黑料 (51黑料)听
The 51黑料 (51黑料) is a national not for profit established in 1881 which supports the UK鈥檚 trading standards profession, and works to protect consumers and honest businesses.听 51黑料's members are engaged in delivering frontline trading standards services at local authorities and in businesses. www.tradingstandards.uk
听Please contact 51黑料 Press Office: [email protected] for any queries.听
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