Botox TM is a drug made from a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum, called Botulinum Toxin (BTX). It is used medically to treat certain muscular conditions and cosmetically remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles.
When it comes to getting rid of wrinkles, the first thing that most of us think of, and often go to, is Botox. While the injectable toxin may be the gold standard for smoothing out skin and lessening signs of aging (other neurotoxins such as Dysport and Xeomin do the same too) there are also a handful of unique ways to use this miracle agent.
1. Reduce Sweaty Armpits
One of the original uses for Botox TM was to treat excessively sweaty underarms, which is medically known as hyperhidrosis, a condition that affects millions and can be embarrassing. Tiny muscles live in the skin that contract to push sweat out. Injecting Botox TM in the armpits prevents the muscles from contracting so that there’s virtually no sweat. It’s a treatment that’s highly popular on the Hollywood Red Carpets (especially during Awards Season!) This FDA approved use is certainly one of the most life changing Botox TM treatments available. Our patients are thrilled with the fact that they can wear clothes that have colour and that they won’t stain their clothing.
2. Alleviate Migraine Pain
Muscular spasm is implicated as the cause of most migraines and Botox TM treatment by relieving this muscle spasm, can give relief from this condition. A 2015 study in Cephalagia reported that Botox TM injections can also help reduce the amount of cluster headaches.
3. Stop a Twitching Eye
Before Botox TM became known for its ability to smooth out wrinkles, it was originally used to correct eye twitches. It was originally developed and used to treat muscle twitching around the eyes. This uncomfortable condition was greatly alleviated by the injection of botulinum toxin into the hyperactive muscle, the effects typically last for three to six months.
4. Eliminate a Gummy Smile
In some individuals, the gums can be very visible on the upper jaw when they smile and laugh. This is due to the over-activity of the elevator muscle of the upper lip, and treating this can make the upper lip just sit at or slightly below the gums, cosmetically imparting a pleasing, fresh and rejuvenated look. It works by reducing movement in the upper lip by temporarily freezing the muscles that lift the upper lip when smiling, preventing the upper lip from retracting and exposing a significant amount of the gums when smiling. However, if the injections aren’t done just right or if too much product is used, your smile can become uneven or distorted and you can even have difficulty pronouncing some words.
5. Regulate Overly Oily Skin
In addition to reducing excessive sweating under the arms as we mentioned earlier, Botox can also be used to help decrease the production of sebum (the substance that makes skin look oily) on the face. Sub-dermal injection of Botox TM can help to temporarily treat oily skin and reduce the size of the pores.
6. Tightness in the Jaw (Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome)
Constant grinding of your teeth and clenching of your jaw can actually swell the muscles that live at the edge of the jaw and in the scalp. As these muscles become overgrown, the face can appear off balance. Injecting those muscles with Botox TM can soften the angles of the face and release any tension, too.
Are any of these issues relevant to you?
Contact us today to book your consultation with Beacon Face & Dermatology
on 01 2136220
