The saying "fair skin hides all flaws" reflects many women's desire for a brighter complexion. Since Asian skin tones tend to be darker and more sallow, the idea of achieving fairer, more beautiful skin with just one injection is naturally appealing—which explains the popularity of whitening injections. But are these injections really that effective?Recently, a Thai influencer shared online that six years of whitening injections left her face severely ulcerated. Wang Jinhuang, Director of Plastic Surgery at Southern Medical University's Zhujiang Hospital, warns beauty seekers that whitening injections lack standardized protocols. Injecting them into the body carries unpredictable risks, and he advises against attempting them rashly.
Thai Woman's Facial Ulceration: Is It All Due to Whitening Injections?
Recently, Thai influencer "Little Angel" shared on Facebook that her skin had hardened, her nose had become ulcerated, and the area under her eyes had swollen and darkened. Her once-beautiful face was now severely disfigured—all allegedly caused by six years of persistent whitening injections.
Photos reveal the woman's once delicate features. Her face first swelled, then developed infections, with skin progressively reddening, swelling, and ulcerating. By the later stages, her face was largely disfigured—likely frightening passersby.
To salvage her face, she had to undergo daily hospital treatments and underwent two rhinoplasty surgeries to repair her ulcerated nose.
The exact cause of her facial ulceration remains unknown, but it is likely linked to her six-year regimen of whitening injections.
Expert: Whitening Injections Lack Standardized Guidelines, Side Effects Difficult to Predict
According to online media and some unverified sources, although whitening injections have not been approved by the National Medical Products Administration, many celebrities—especially those with exceptionally fair complexions—are said to achieve their enviable skin tone through these injections. And it's certainly not just one or two sessions; they reportedly receive them continuously. Does this prove that whitening injections are a safe way to lighten skin?
Wang Jinhuang, Director of Plastic Surgery at Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, previously stated that whitening injections lack NMPA approval and standardized protocols. Injecting these substances carries unpredictable risks of side effects and complications. He advises against their use."Whitening injections lack standardized protocols. They are based on the folk belief that injecting tyrosine, glutathione, vitamins, and other components into the body can influence melanin metabolism, potentially causing some individuals to perceive temporary skin lightening. However, the specific efficacy remains scientifically contested. The extent and duration of any observed effects cannot be reliably measured.Moreover, without national standards, injecting agents with unclear side effects carries unpredictable risks."
In other words, whitening injections currently lack standardized protocols. Setting aside whether celebrities achieve their fair complexion through such injections, even if they did, we cannot ascertain the exact composition of their treatments. Blindly following trends by getting whitening injections may expose individuals to unpredictable side effects—or worse, lead to irreversible damage like the case of the internet celebrity mentioned earlier, whose once-perfect face was utterly ruined.