Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Doctors Warn Skin-Glow IV Drips Lack Strong Evidence
An IV drip sends liquid into the body through a small tube placed in a vein.
Hospitals use IVs to give people fluids or medicines when needed.
Some wellness clinics sell drips with vitamins and other ingredients and say they can help skin look brighter.
Doctors say there is not enough proof that these treatments make healthy people’s skin glow.
They also say an IV is a medical procedure, not a quick beauty fix.
Possible problems include bruising, allergic reactions, nausea, headaches and swelling.
People with certain health conditions, allergies, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding should seek medical advice first.
In India, the treatments can cost several thousand rupees.
IV drips deliver fluids and ingredients such as vitamins and minerals directly into a vein.
Wellness clinics market some formulations for skin glow, energy, hydration, immunity and other benefits.
Doctors say there is not enough evidence that IV vitamin therapy brightens skin in healthy people.
Reported side effects include pain or bruising, allergic reactions, nausea, headache and swelling.
In India, sessions reportedly cost about ₹4,000–₹10,000, with some three-session packages priced at ₹12,000–₹15,000.
- Who
- People seeking skin-glow treatments, wellness clinics offering IV drips, and doctors advising caution.
- What
- IV drips deliver fluids and ingredients such as vitamins, minerals or glutathione directly into the bloodstream; doctors say evidence for cosmetic skin benefits is limited.
- When
- A session may take around 30 minutes to an hour.
- Where
- Wellness and aesthetic clinics; the article reports prices in India.
- Why
- Some people seek the treatment for brighter-looking skin, while clinics also market drips for energy, hydration and general wellness.
Clinic marketing
Medical cautions
Cosmetic benefits
Clinic marketing
Some wellness and aesthetic clinics market IV formulations for skin glow and other wellness goals.
Medical cautions
Doctors say evidence for IV vitamin therapy or intravenous glutathione as a skin-brightening treatment is limited, and healthy skin should not be equated with fairer skin.
Use as a beauty treatment
Clinic marketing
The treatments are offered to people seeking a quick glow, among other advertised purposes.
Medical cautions
Doctors caution that an IV drip is a medical procedure and should not be treated as a quick beauty fix or chosen just because of its name or another person’s experience.
- IV meaning
- Intravenous: delivered into a vein.
- Common ingredients mentioned
- Vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, zinc and glutathione.
- Session duration
- Around 30 minutes to an hour.
- Evidence for skin glow
- The article says there is not enough evidence that IV vitamin therapy automatically brightens healthy people’s skin.
- Reported side effects
- Pain or bruising, allergic reaction, nausea, headache and swelling.
- Reported session price in India
- Around ₹4,000 to ₹10,000.
- Reported package price
- Some three-session packages cost around ₹12,000 to ₹15,000.