These conditions include iron and zinc deficiencies, diabetes, liver problems, and many others. It should come as no surprise that dermatologists often recommend nutritional supplementation to improve the structure, function, and growth of the skin, hair, and nails by prescribing oral zinc, iron, vitamins C and D, and biotin. The next horizon is the ability to deliver these nutrients directly into the blood stream to achieve a more efficient rate of absorption.

THE MYERS’ COCKTAIL
The Myers’ Cocktail is an example of a wellness IV treatment that combines vitamins to help the skin. This cocktail was developed by John Myers, M.D., a physician from Baltimore, Md. He established the use of IV vitamins and minerals as a treatment for various medical problems. Over the past 16 years, clinical results pertaining to the Myers’ Cocktail have been presented at more than 20 medical conferences. Since its inception, many doctors in the United States utilize the Myers’ Cocktail. Some doctors have even chosen to make modifications of the cocktail according to what they prefer. However, it is important to note that when preparing to take any wellness IV, patients should drink a lot of water and eat prior to the procedure. There have been some patients who report feeling light-headed after the procedure and having an aftertaste of vitamins.
An IV cocktail can consist of vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, amino acids, and glutathione. Vitamin C helps to fight aging, treat wrinkles, and diminish brown spots. Zinc is helpful in the treatment of acne. Magnesium is great for fighting inflammation of the skin and preventing wrinkles. Calcium is important in the structure of the skin and may even help prevent skin cancer. B vitamins and biotin also come with a variety of beauty benefits, such as strengthening the hair and nails and helping them to grow.

AMINO ACIDS AND GLUTATHIONE
For anti-aging, amino acids, like proline and lysine, are building blocks for collagen. When there is a decrease in the uptake of amino acids, cellular renewal is slowed and the dermis will become thin. IV infusions supplying amino acids, water hydration, and B vitamins help delay the aging process. Glutathione, a natural antioxidant, is also a powerful ingredient in IV treatments. Glutathione can detoxify and remove harmful compounds from the body. Glutathione also helps reduce excess pigmentation of the skin.

The use of IV treatments is still in its infancy. There are many hurdles that still need to be overcome before consistent results can be achieved on a global scale. First of all, the ingredients in the IV cocktails are compounded in a local compounding pharmacy and then these ingredients are custom-mixed into a cocktail. There is no national manufacturer of IV cocktails. The good part is that the cocktails can be individually tailored to the patient. The bad part is that the quality of cocktail is determined by the quality of the compounding pharmacy and the doctor mixing the cocktail. Secondly, there are few consensus treatment guidelines on the dose, frequency, and rate of administration. Finally, there needs to be safety guidelines in place to reduce the risk of bruising, infection, and systemic reactions. If clients are receiving IV treatments for skin care, they should go to a board-
certified dermatologist who is familiar with IV treatments and receive a comprehensive treatment plan that will most likely include topical treatments and procedures, as well as IV treatments.