Forget facials, spas, and massages—there’s a new addition to beauty rituals: getting intravenous (IV) injections. Most people know IV therapy as a method of administering fluids and medications to patients in hospitals.

This medical technique is now being used as a beauty treatment across the world, with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Adele being its poster girls in the West. The trend has also spread to India, where many beauty and wellness clinics offer these treatments for those seeking glowing skin, improved immunity, hair loss control and anti-ageing benefits.

If you find casual photos of people with needles and drip bags in their arms, it is possible that they are not doing anything for a health concern but are simply taking IV therapy for better skin, immunity, overall health or to get rid of a hangover.

When actor Arjun Kapoor shared such a picture on social media in June this year, his fans got worried. But it was a picture of a vitamin therapy session, which is done to deliver high concentrations of vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream. Since it bypasses the digestive process, IV therapy allows for faster and better absorption of vitamins and minerals.

These drips benefit the skin as skin care is related to internal health. As they say, adopting a healthy lifestyle and eating antioxidant-rich foods leads to glowing skin.

What is IV Aesthetic Therapy?

“IV Beauty drips are intravenous injections that deliver a combination of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream, improving skin health, making you look younger and improving your overall well-being. These drips are designed to keep your skin hydrated, slow down the ageing process and give you a healthy glow,” explains Dr Veenu Jindal, dermatologist and founder of Rasa Derm Clinic in Delhi. india today,

Different vitamin blends and ingredients are used for different purposes. For example, Glutathione IV is popular for beauty therapy.

“Glutathione has been proven to reduce pigmentation and enhance glow. When we talk about beauty drips, glutathione is the most popular one,” says Dr Kiran, founder of Isya Aesthetics in New Delhi, who claims to have introduced beauty drips to India.

In addition to glutathione, vitamins C, B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12), biotin, magnesium, calcium, and zinc are common nutrients used in these IV drips.

Dr Vivek Nigam Jagmohan, cosmetologist and aesthetic surgeon from Mumbai, explains how these ingredients benefit the skin:

• vitamin C: Boosts collagen production, improves skin texture, and brightens complexion.
• Glutathione: Antioxidant That Reduces Oxidative Stress, Evens Out Skin Tone, And Enhances Skin Radiance.
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Needed for energy production, helps reduce inflammation, and promotes healthy skin.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide): Improves skin elasticity, reduces inflammation, and enhances skin radiance.
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): Provides moisture to the skin, reduces fine lines, and increases skin elasticity.
• Vitamin B6: Involved in collagen production, helps reduce inflammation, and promotes healthy skin.
• Biotin: Strengthens hair, nails and skin, and improves skin elasticity.
• Zinc: Essential for wound healing, reduces inflammation, and promotes healthy skin.

Dr Manu S Walia, lead dermatologist at Myra Dermamed, Mumbai, says IVs provide vital nutrients, essential hydration and electrolytes, making them suitable for a wide range of people. She explains the different types of IVs practised at her clinic:

• Immuno Booster IVs activate the body’s defense system by adding essential nutrients like Glutathione, Vitamin C and Vitamin B Complex to promote healing and take care of your body.
• Insta-Glow IV, containing a blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, for smoother, more even skin.
• Athletic Recovery Boost IV contains a carefully designed solution to enhance performance and accelerate recovery after rigorous training.

There are also dedicated drips to boost collagen, provide instant hydration, fight ageing and boost multivitamins in the body. In the area of ​​health, there are customised drips for migraine prevention, stress, sleep problems, stomach bugs, colds and flu and boosting metabolism.

Risks and precautions

But are IV beauty drips as effective as they claim, and are there any risks you should be aware of? And most importantly, do you even need this therapy?

Well, let’s talk about the first thing first. Dr Kiran says, “IV Beauty Therapy is for healthy individuals. People with kidney, heart and liver problems should avoid it.”

“One can opt for IV drip after consulting a qualified medical professional,” says Dr Walia. Excess of certain minerals and nutrients can also cause side effects and affect our organs. Patients should be informed about pre-existing diseases and allergies to reduce the chances of complications.

Hence, it is always best to consult a healthcare professional before undergoing any vitamin drip therapy. They may recommend a blood test to understand how much of which nutrient your body needs. The plan should be customized accordingly. The price of a beauty drip can range between Rs 2,000 to Rs 22,000 depending on the ingredients and the clinic.

“You should have a blood test or health checkup before starting a beauty drip. These tests identify which nutrients you are lacking, how much of each nutrient you are getting, and ensure that IV treatment is safe and right for you,” says Dr. Jindal.

“Certain active ingredients/nutrients make you look better because you are already fatigued and you cannot get enough of them through diet,” says Dr Kiran.

It’s also important not to overdo it with IV therapy sessions. They typically range from once a week to once a month. In the beginning, the frequency may be more like two to three sessions a week, depending on your body’s needs.

Tanya Khubchandani, Founder and CEO, Elixir Wellness, said, “For recovery and illness-based IVs, often, just one is enough. For beauty elixirs and metabolism boosters and migraines, a short course is prescribed by our doctors that is customized as per the client’s lifestyle and goals.” Harper’s Bazaar India (June-July 2024).

IV beauty therapy is essentially a quick procedure, as a session typically takes around 40-50 minutes to complete. There is no downtime or recovery time. However, if it is not performed in a medical setup or by a trained specialist, it can lead to infection, bruising or phlebitis (infection of the veins).

Other possible side effects of IV therapy include dizziness, electrolyte abnormalities, and allergic reactions.

It’s important to stay hydrated and eat and drink something before Beauty Drops. “Be sure to eat a light meal before your session so you don’t feel dizzy, and don’t do strenuous activities immediately after,” says Dr Kiran.

just a short term solution

As far as efficacy goes, IV beauty therapy results are short-lived, so follow-up treatments are required. While IV therapy can be a great adjunct to other skin treatments, it is only effective to a certain extent on its own.

Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, staying hydrated and following a proper skin care routine can help in getting better results.