Although Botox® is widely known as a cosmetic anti-aging treatment, it was initially developed for a wide range of alternative purposes. The chemicals within Botox® treatments are effective for numerous corrections to common health concerns.
Let’s dive deeper and examine some of the most surprising uses of Botox® that you may have never considered.
You can treat a gummy smile with Botox®, which relaxes the muscles that cause your upper lip to rise too high. As a result of this temporary numbing, your upper lip will recede back to a regular height, meaning that your gums will be covered for a more even smile that reduces the visibility of your gums.
Recent research has shown that the toxin “provides long-term relief of myofascial TMD by decreasing the intensity, frequency, and duration of recurrent episodes.”
Botox® can alleviate pain associated with TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorder symptoms, as these patients often suffer from tense jaw muscles. Specific symptoms of TMJ disorder may be resolved with Botox®, which is typically recommended as a complementary therapy to other treatments.
In migraine headaches, doctors believe Botox® works because it blocks pain-carrying chemicals called neurotransmitters. Acting as a roadblock, Botox® prevents that pathway from being accessed, and your head and neck are protected against these painful chemicals that are trying to reach the nerve endings.
When your body temperature rises, your nervous system activates your sweat glands. The body cools itself automatically in this manner. However, hyperhidrosis affects people with overactive sweat gland nerves. The overactive nerves within the area of your body where you sweat can be essentially paralyzed with Botox® injections for relief from constant, excessive sweating that can be cumbersome and embarrassing in social environments.
During Botox® treatments to slim your face, specific muscles are targeted for injections. Your jaw muscles can often become enlarged by grinding and clenching your teeth, and either side of the face can receive a Botox® injection into the bulky Masseter muscles. As a result, these larger muscles relax, giving the appearance of a slimmer jawline while accentuating the cheekbones.
Aside from treating wrinkles, Botox® is now used to treat neuromuscular disorders as well. It blocks nerve signals causing tight muscles, resulting in muscle relaxation. Botox®zmay offer advantages over conventional therapies to combat myofascial pain syndrome, and it may also benefit individuals complaining of persistent neck pain who have failed to respond to other common treatments.
The skin’s oil production is controlled by acetylcholine. Acne outbreaks can be triggered by excessive oil in the skin’s pigments, which provides a breeding ground for bacteria. Despite this, Botox® has been shown to help with flare-ups by reducing the appearance of oily skin in patients and inhibiting the body’s excessive acetylcholine production.
Rosacea is treated with Botox® by closing blood vessels in the skin. Your skin won’t be flooded by blood after triggers, a common issue causing rosacea marks on the face. With closed-off blood vessels, the excessive flow is cut off, with results typically lasting three to four months after the treatment.
Recent studies have shown that Botox® also reduces pores. By minimizing the arrector pili muscle (or “hair erector muscle”), sweat glands, and oil glands (known as sebaceous glands), the skin’s oiliness is reduced without the “frozen” effect typically felt with regular Botox® treatments.
Before deciding if this treatment is right for you, our compassionate staff can answer all your questions and concerns! You may be surprised to learn how much a Botox® injection can do for a healthy, glowing appearance.
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