While many Malaysians pop a Vitamin C tablet every morning for a host of reasons, others are opting for a syringe that full of the diet supplement. Yes, we are talking about Vitamin C injections. In Malaysia, even though it’s illegal, you still can get a jab of Vitamin C with a price range from RM 100 to RM 2,700. These injections come with the promise of a lighter complexion, anti-ageing benefits and general good health.
Some also pay a premium for a mixture of ingredients made up of Vitamin C and other elements, including collagen and placenta. While most suppliers are private medical practitioners, there are also beauticians involved. It’s not only all glowing faces and rosy cheeks, there are some very serious and dangerous side-effects. While some of the side effects may be temporary and not serious, there are others that may lead to death.
These are the reasons why there was no USFDA approval of Vitamin C injection for cosmetics, especially as anti-ageing, whitening agent and anti-wrinkle. In Malaysia, the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB) did not approve any Vitamin C injection for cosmetics used.
Why is Vitamin C injection illegal?
Some of the answers that we’ve got were because many beauty centres are doing Vitamin C injection in their beauty salon. This is definitely a NO and ILLEGAL! Beauticians are UNQUALIFIED to inject into the vein of anybody. What can make this worse is that these procedures are done in a beauty centre without proper medical equipment in the event of an emergency.
The other reason was these products were unregulated and easily obtainable by anyone through online purchases. Additionally non-medical entrepreneurs are making superfluous and sometimes absurd claims that intravenous Vitamin C can cure all diseases without you having to consult a medically qualified doctor. And doctors colluding with such enterprise to inject Vitamin C for patients who bring their products to their clinic is persecuted harshly.
Case study
There is no clinical study was found for injection of Vitamin C as an anti-ageing, anti-whitening or anti-wrinkle agent either as single use or in combination with glutathione and collagen. Only one study was included in this review but it was a laboratory study which is considered as low level of evidence on the whitening effect of Vitamin C. Therefore, the study has shown that Vitamin C injections cause more harm than good.
In 2010, there was a survey conducted to investigate the adverse effects of Vitamin C injection. The outcome of the study showed that out of 9227 that took the Vitamin C injection, 59 of them reported having fatigue. 20 of them have changed in mental status (general changes in brain function, such as confusion, memory loss and loss of alertness), 1 kidney failure, 9 having vein irritation and 9 experienced nauseous and vomiting. Some of them have also reported experiencing diarrhoea and abdominal bloating.
Wrapping up..
There was no significant clinical evidence to prove that Vitamin C injection either in single doses or in combination with glutathione and collagen can improve skin elasticity and whiten the skin. It has also been proven that it can cause harm and even death.
Dr. Ingky says, “To achieve the best levels for skin, it is most advisable to apply Vitamin C to the surface of the skin”. Topical Vitamin C targets directly to the particular skin that has issues. Therefore, when it comes to skin brightening, applying Vitamin C directly to the skin will achieve the optimal benefits.
Dr Ingky is also the founder and CEO of SkynFyx, Malaysia's first Digital Skin Doctor platform. The site is run by a team of dedicated skin doctors, all available for an online chat about any skin concerns that you may have.
Aside from providing you with personal care education that is completely free, you can also have medicated creams specially concocted for your skin concerns, be it breakouts, blackheads, wrinkles or others.
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