What Is Botox Used For?
Botox is a protein comes from the Botulinum toxin. It temporarily paralyzes muscle. It is often used by doctors because when it is administered in small doses, it can reduce skin wrinkles and help treat a range of medical conditions. If you are considering Botox as a treatment or have been recommended it by your doctor, read on to learn more about its uses.
What is Botox?
Botox comes from the C. botulinum bacteria. This bacterium is naturally occurring in forests, lakes, soil, and even in the intestinal tracts of mammals and fish. In its natural state, this bacterium is generally harmless, but when the population of spores increases it can turn into Botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin is a deadly neurotoxin that is responsible for botulism and is extremely dangerous.
When administered appropriately by a doctor in a therapeutic context it is generally safe and has many side effects that are beneficial to a person’s health, however. When used in these contexts, Botox targets the nervous system. It disrupts the nerve signaling processes that stimulate muscle contraction and ultimately causes temporary muscle paralysis.
What is Botox Used For?
Botox has numerous uses when administered therapeutically. The two main types of uses are cosmetic and medical.
Cosmetic Uses:
The primary use of Botox for cosmetic purposes is to target wrinkles. Botox is the most common cosmetic procedure performed in the U.S. Botox works cosmetically by blocking the signals from the nerves to the muscles. When Botox is injected into the muscles responsible for causing the wrinkles, it temporarily paralyzes them. This prevents the muscles from contracting, which in turn reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Since the muscles are relaxed, the skin over them becomes smoother and more even. The effects of this often last 3-12 months.
The most common requests for cosmetic Botox injections are for:
- wrinkles between the eyebrows, often called frown lines
- wrinkles around the eyes, often called crow’s feet
- creases or lines in the forehead or around the mouth
Medical Uses:
Botox also has many medical uses when specifically targeting the neuromuscular system is beneficial. The most common medical uses of Botox are for:
- Migraine prevention
- Eyelid spasms
- Neurological movement disorders such as cervical dystonia
- Overactive bladder
- Crossed eyes
- Upper limb spasticity
Some people have even used Botox to treat medical conditions that have not been approved by the FDA for treatment such as: facial redness or flushing, scars, or inflammatory skin disease.
What Does This Mean for Me?
If you are considering Botox as a treatment, it is important to understand what it can and can’t be used for. Botox is extremely useful when administered appropriately and for specific conditions. If you have more questions about Botox and its uses, speak with your medical provider today. They will be able to answer your questions and let you know if Botox may be right for you. Rest assured, that if you use Botox administered by a doctor either cosmetically or medically, it is safe. Speak with your doctor today to learn more.