FEATURES

THE IV economy

IV vitamin drips are becoming more common in aesthetic clinics. Ellen Cummings explores the trend, the claims, the risks and what practitioners need to know

Once considered a fringe wellness indulgence, intravenous (IV) nutrient therapy has rapidly become a mainstream add-on within medical-aesthetic settings. From hydration drips and high-dose antioxidants to NAD+ infusions used in longevity clinics, the category has expanded in both visibility and demand. Clinics offering IV drips report patients seeking energy, recovery, radiance and performance benefits in a way that aligns with a wider shift toward proactive, inside-out wellness.

But as interest grows, so do questions about safety, evidence, practitioner competency and the use of unlicensed or unregulated products.

WHY IV DRIPS ARE BECOMING PART OF AESTHETIC MEDICINE

For many clinics, the rise of IV therapy is driven first and foremost by patient demand.

Sk:n Clinics introduced IV drips in 2025 after observing a clear shift in the concerns and interests of their patient base. According to Amy McGuire, nurse prescriber and dermatology nurse at Sk:n, the move was designed to “meet patient demand and to further strengthen our doctor-led approach to medical aesthetics and wellness”.

She explains that IV therapy complements established treatments by supporting “skin health, hydration, recovery and overall wellbeing through evidence-based nutrient therapy delivered directly into the bloodstream” in a fully regulated environment.

Patients had already been asking Sk:n practitioners about drips, particularly for fatigue, travel recovery, immune support and skin radiance. The demographic requesting IV therapy tends to be adults aged 28-55, including busy professionals, frequent travellers, fitness enthusiasts and those preparing for significant events.

Dr Asima Nasir, GP and aesthetic doctor at Orskin Aesthetics in Dubai, notes that IV therapy has expanded because “people are becoming much more invested in their health from the inside out”. As she explains, longevity medicine has pushed patients to consider mitochondrial function, inflammation, nutrient status and recovery as part of maintaining performance and ageing well.

THE BROADER WELLNESS AND REGENERATIVE SHIFT

Aesthetic clinics are increasingly seeing patients approach treatment plans holistically. McGuire says IV therapy aligns with “the broader trend of preventative and regenerative medicine” in which patients seek “whole-body rejuvenation, sustained performance, long-term skin optimisation and extended health-span”.

This integrated thinking, also seen in the growth of longevity clinics, biohacking centres and functional health programmes, suggests IV therapy is becoming part of a much wider shift in patient expectations.

WHAT IV THERAPY CAN REALISTICALLY OFFER

Experts emphasise that IV drips have limits, but when used appropriately they can support short-term functional needs.

At Sk:n Clinics, consistent benefits relate to:

• Medically supervised rehydration

• Short-term energy support

• Recovery from lifestyle stress, illness or travel

• Seasonal immune support

• Enhanced skin hydration and radiance McGuire stresses that IV therapy is “supportive wellness rather than disease treatment”, and that results are temporary and adjunctive.

Dr Nasir echoes this: “Used properly, IV therapy can correct low-level nutrient deficiencies, support recovery after illness, travel or intense training and give a temporary lift in energy, focus and hydration.” She notes that antioxidants such as vitamin C and glutathione can support the body’s natural defences, and B vitamins play key roles in energy metabolism.

But IV therapy “can’t replace a healthy lifestyle”, she warns. “A drip won’t undo chronic sleep debt, ongoing stress, under-eating or long-term metabolic issues.” The treatment works best as an add-on for patients with solid foundational habits, not as a quick fix.

POPULAR INGREDIENTS AND HOW THEY’RE USED

The ingredients requested most often in clinic often mirror trending themes in wellness.

According to Sk:n’s data, patients most commonly seek:

• High-dose vitamin C (for radiance and immune support)

• Glutathione (associated with antioxidant and detox pathways)

• B complex and B12 (for fatigue)

• Magnesium (for stress, sleep and muscle relaxation)

• NAD+ which McGuire says is “increasingly asked about for longevity and cognitive optimisation.” Dr Nasir explains in simple terms how these ingredients work physiologically. B vitamins “drive hundreds of reactions in the body”, NAD+ supports cellular energy and DNA repair, and antioxidants help neutralise oxidative stress. However, the inclusion of ingredients such as glutathione and NAD+ raises regulatory questions, particularly regarding licensing, clinical justification and the absence of long-term evidence, as explored later.

HOW CLINICS ARE STRUCTURING THEIR IV OFFERINGS

Most medical-aesthetic clinics offering IV therapy use a menu of formulations targeted at different goals. Sk:n Clinics, for example, offer hydration, energy, detox, multivitamin and immune-focused drips, along with varying strengths of vitamin C. They also personalise formulations based on medical consultation, lifestyle factors and aesthetic treatment plans.

This personalisation, McGuire says, is “a cornerstone of Sk:n Clinics’ IV delivery model”, with adjustments made only when clinically appropriate.

IV therapy is also commonly combined with aesthetic treatments. Sk:n patients may pair their drip with polynucleotides, Profhilo or B12 injections as part of integrated treatment planning.

WHAT SAFE IV DELIVERY INVOLVES

While IV drips are marketed casually on social media, delivering them safely requires significant infrastructure.

At Sk:n Clinics, which are CQC-registered, the patient journey includes a full consultation, medical history review, risk screening, medication checks, assessment of vein suitability, and baseline vitals. Infusions are administered in a clinical treatment room and patients are monitored throughout.

Their safety protocols include:

• NMC, HCPC or GMC-registered practitioners only

• Accredited training in cannulation and IV nutrient delivery

• Use of GMP-certified compounding pharmacies

• Sterile, single-use equipment

• Aseptic technique

• On-site emergency drugs and resuscitation equipment

• Strict clinical governance and audit trails The clinic also excludes higher-risk groups, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, patients with significant cardiac or renal disease, and individuals with G6PD deficiency before high-dose vitamin C.

These standards are far above those seen in some beauty or retail environments, and it is in this gap that the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) has raised concern.

THE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE

The JCCP has repeatedly flagged the risks associated with unregulated IV therapy and the use of unlicensed or off-label products.

Registered nurse Andrew Rankin, chair of the JCCP’s Practitioner Register Committee and co-chair of the Clinical Advisory

Group, explains that IV wellness drips are classified as a regulated activity, reflecting their risk profile and the level of oversight required. The JCCP’s concerns centre on several issues:

1. Prescription-only status and risk “All prescription-only medicines carry risk,” Rankin says, noting that IV administration carries the highest level. When used for approved indications with clear dosing guidelines, the risk-benefit analysis is straightforward. But with unlicensed or unregulated products, he warns, “this information is lacking or absent”.

2. Off-label or unlicensed ingredients Many trending ingredients, particularly NAD+ and glutathione, fall into “grey areas of regulation”. Rankin states that “unlicensed medicines cannot be used for cosmetic purposes”, and that justification for clinical need must be made by an appropriate prescriber.

3. Supply chain and pharmacy responsibility The JCCP stresses the importance of good manufacturing practice. Pharmacies must ensure products are safe and appropriately sourced – a requirement that becomes more complex when demand drives the use of niche or unregulated formulations.

4. Professional oversight and environment Rankin states clearly: “The inherent risk behind IV therapies is sufficient to restrict the practice to appropriate healthcare professionals within CQC-registered facilities.”

This aligns with the JCCP’s view that IV drips fall in the “Red” category, which is the highest proposed restriction.

HOW THE UK COMPARES GLOBALLY

Dr Nasir describes the UK as moving into a more medically-led, evidence-focused era of IV therapy. She notes a shift away from “gimmicky cocktails” and toward personalised protocols informed by blood work, mirroring developments in UAE and US longevity clinics, albeit with a more cautious approach. This evolution, combined with tightening regulatory scrutiny, may push UK clinics toward more integrated wellness and optimisation pathways rather than walk-in boost bars.

WHERE THE TREND IS HEADING

Experts agree that IV therapy is unlikely to disappear. Sk:n Clinics anticipate growth in demand as longevity-focused spending becomes mainstream and as their core demographic seeks more comprehensive wellness support.

They also expect advances in biomarker-based personalisation and more interest in regenerative ingredients, though only within tightly regulated, medically supervised settings.

For practitioners, the future likely involves more structure, more scrutiny and more integration with evidence-based health pathways.

CONCLUSION

IV nutrition therapy sits at the intersection of aesthetics, wellness and longevity. Patients are increasingly looking beyond surface-level treatments and asking for solutions that help them feel energised and optimised.

But the rise of IV drips brings equally significant responsibilities. When delivered in regulated clinical environments, by qualified healthcare professionals using licensed or appropriately justified products, IV therapy can offer short-term supportive benefits and complement a wider aesthetic or wellness programme.

When delivered without medical oversight, robust governance or evidence-based protocols, it carries avoidable risk.

For aesthetic clinics weighing up whether to enter the space, the message from experts is clear: the opportunity is real, but so is the obligation.