IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) can help patients work towards specific health goals, especially those related to skin care. In fact, key nutrients can be included in your IV drip to promote a smooth, supple complexion. 

It’s not a surprise that our skin changes as we mature. As the years go by, we may experience low collagen production and weak skin elasticity; the recovery time of wounds may lengthen, too. Years of sun exposure can also contribute to the formation of dark spots and wrinkles.  

However, a wide range of strategies can help recuperate your appearance of skin. At the TFMC, some patients opt for supportive intravenous therapy combined with regular oral supplementation, daily healthy living and other treatment interventions. Vitamin IV therapy is available in our in-house IV Lounge, and we customize each IV drip with doses of nutrients for your health goals only, including goals related to skin! In this article, we highlight some key nutrients and why they may be added to a tailored anti-aging IV drip.   

Supporting Anti-Aging Effects with IV Therapy and Optimal Nutrients

For promoting skin anti-aging effects, a regular intravenous treatment may offer these beneficial effects: 

• • Provides instant hydration: IV therapy is designed to immediately rehydrate your body. Dehydration can affect your skin, causing the dermis to appear dull with shadows. As a result, dehydration can enhance the severity of wrinkles and fine lines. 

• • Supports detoxification processes: IV drip therapy can utilize essential nutrients to promote liver detoxification, which may support the removal of harmful constituents. Exposures to environmental pollutants and a dietary intake of processed foods can accumulate free radicals in the body, possibly leading to an aged appearance and reduced skin elasticity.

• • Contributes to alleviating nutrient deficiencies linked to aging skin: Scientists have confirmed that lacking certain levels of vitamins can cause feeble skin. For example, vitamins A, C, D and E may instigate poor wound healing. But when these deficiencies are alleviated, they could help manage skin aging. 

Intravenous infusion treatments enter your vein and blood stream only, and they bypass your digestive system and immediately nourish your body with nutrients. Filtration is not necessary in the digestive tract when IV nutrient therapy is administered, so this allows the body to automatically absorb nutrients, hypothetically promoting swift results. IV therapy treatments are suitable for patients with malabsorption due to chronic diseases (i.e. inflammatory bowel disease), as oral supplements can trigger digestive issues in these patients. So if you think a custom-made IV drip is for you, consider these natural ingredients for fostering a youthful-looking appearance: 

• • Glutathione: As a potent antioxidant, it can reduce in the human body due to aging. This reduction can be concerning because glutathione is vital for fighting free radicals. When supplemented, it could potentially help brighten skin, smoothen wrinkles and improve skin elasticity. 

• • NAC (N-acetylcysteine): Also known as a powerful antioxidant, NAC can help the body produce glutathione. NAC may be beneficial for inflamed skin due to its anti-inflammatory components; it may also help protect the skin barrier from oxidative damage. 

• • Vitamin C: Has the potential to boost collagen production, which may be suitable for helping address sagging skin; it may also reduce hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C may help protect your skin from UV damage, however, it doesn’t replace daily topical sunscreen. 
  • NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide): Low amounts of NAD are correlated with aging skin. When these levels are restored, they may help repair skin cells and prevent damage to cells caused by UV rays.  

Intravenous drips can support optimal health and potentially improve skin when combined with healthy eating, exercise, daily oral supplementation, and additional functional medicine therapies. At the TFMC, we can tailor your treatment plan with IV therapy ingredients, injection therapies (vitamin B12, vitamin D, glutathione), Western, Chinese, and naturopathic medicines, herbal remedies, hormone optimization programs, psychotherapy, and more. Schedule your initial consult with us and discover the beneficial effects of custom health care. 

Suggested reading: An IV Therapy Toronto Guide to Glutathione for the Aging Brain

Book Your Visit at the TFMC’s IV Lounge

Our functional medicine practitioners are accepting new patients who are eager to reach optimal functioning. Our approach to wellness is personalized for each patient who enters our private downtown clinic because we recognize that patients are not alike! 

Everyone’s health status manifests differently with unique symptoms, genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. A tailored treatment plan allows you to address what exactly is going on in your biology without being grouped into a category. All of our treatment modalities, including doses of vitamins for your booster shot or IV drip, are adapted with the principles of integrative functional medicine. 

Our private downtown clinic is also home to our IV Lounge. We opened Toronto’s first IV Lounge in 2012, and we continue to serve Torontonians with adjunct intravenous therapy! Each IV drip is freshly compounded with natural ingredients (no added preservatives and fillers), and all sessions are monitored by our naturopathic doctor, nurse practitioners and registered nurses. Our menu caters to a wide range of health conditions, which is why we offer our popular high-dose vitamin C drip, as well as a medley of amino acids with glutamic acid, folic acid, major minerals and trace minerals, nutrients with anti-inflammatory components, NAD IV therapy, and more. 

If you have any queries about our personalized service of health care, please let us know! Our clinicians have ample experience managing diverse health concerns, including those affecting brain fog, immune function, chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, physical performances, autoimmune diseases, cellular damage, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, fatty liver disease, and more. 

From aging skin to improving athletic performance, our functional medicine clinic can tailor a treatment plan for your needs. Simply request your initial consult for IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre today. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Cao C, Xiao Z, Wu Y, Ge C. Diet and Skin Aging-From the Perspective of Food Nutrition. Nutrients. 2020 Mar 24;12(3):870. doi: 10.3390/nu12030870. PMID: 32213934; PMCID: PMC7146365.

Conlon, N. J. (2022). The Role of NAD+ in Regenerative Medicine. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 150(4 Suppl), 41S. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000009673

Liu XX, Sun CB, Yang TT, Li D, Li CY, Tian YJ, Guo M, Cao Y, Zhou SS. Decreased skin-mediated detoxification contributes to oxidative stress and insulin resistance. Exp Diabetes Res. 2012;2012:128694. doi: 10.1155/2012/128694. Epub 2012 Aug 1. PMID: 22899900; PMCID: PMC3415238.

Janeczek M, Moy L, Riopelle A, Vetter O, Reserva J, Tung R, Swan J. The Potential Uses of N-acetylcysteine in Dermatology: A Review. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2019 May;12(5):20-26. Epub 2019 May 1. PMID: 31320973; PMCID: PMC6561714.

Schagen SK, Zampeli VA, Makrantonaki E, Zouboulis CC. Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012 Jul 1;4(3):298-307. doi: 10.4161/derm.22876. PMID: 23467449; PMCID: PMC3583891.

Telang PS. Vitamin C in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2013 Apr;4(2):143-6. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.110593. PMID: 23741676; PMCID: PMC3673383.

Weschawalit S, Thongthip S, Phutrakool P, Asawanonda P. Glutathione and its antiaging and antimelanogenic effects. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017;10:147-153
https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S128339