Following a 1994 study, the cosmetic treatment Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for facial wrinkles gained popularity. In the early 2000s, the FDA approved it for treating frown lines. Since then, its uses have gone well beyond avoiding wrinkles. The fact that Botox has so many uses in medicine may surprise you.
This article will discuss unexpected Botox applications beyond aesthetic procedures, some of which are FDA-approved, and other intriguing prospective new uses. Learn more about botox and anti-aging in Los Angeles:
What Is Botox?
Botox is a toxin, a protein made by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, that may injure cells. Large doses of this toxin, which harms the body’s nerves, can be fatal.
However, if the toxin is given in small, targeted amounts, as with Botox, you can achieve medical benefits while averting serious sickness.
Botox works by stopping nerve activity. When used sparingly and exclusively on specific muscles, it prevents nerves from firing, which relaxes the muscles. Because this effect is temporary, people often need monthly injections of Botox to maintain the benefit.
What Conditions Could Be Treated with Botox?
Botox is primarily used for cosmetic purposes, but researchers have discovered that it is also useful for treating various chronic ailments due to its ability to suppress the activity of overactive muscle neurons (nerve cells).
Here are several applications that the FDA has approved.
Migraines
Around 15 percent of people worldwide experience migraines, making daily life difficult for those who experience them. For the treatment of chronic migraineurs—those who experience at least 15 headache days per month with pain lasting at least four hours—Botox has received FDA approval.
Botox treats migraines and is injected into numerous areas around your head and neck. This stops specific muscle neurons from alerting your brain to discomfort in those areas. Twelve weeks of therapy are doable; additional sessions should result in greater advancement.
Injections of Botox were found to help lower the severity and frequency of migraine attacks in a study of 28 clinical trials that used the medication to treat chronic migraines.
Profuse Sweating
Hyperhidrosis, often known as excessive sweating, is a chronic condition that can upset both the physical and psychological well-being.
According to FDA approval, adults with severe hyperhidrosis who don’t receive enough relief from topical therapies can use Botox (e.g., antiperspirants).
Botox relieves hyperhidrosis by stopping the nerves from releasing a chemical that causes sweating. By being injected there, it might lessen the amount of perspiration the body creates in an area where there is excessive sweating.
A 2001 study examined the effectiveness of underarm Botox injections for excessive sweating in 145 volunteers. Botox was injected under one arm of each individual, while a placebo injection, or an injection without any medication, was injected under the opposite arm.
Two weeks after the initial injection, researchers found that the underarms treated with Botox sweated significantly less than those treated with a placebo. Furthermore, 98 percent of study participants stated they would suggest the treatment to others.
Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
In 2010, the FDA approved using Botox to treat MS patients’ limb stiffness. The following year, they also approved it for overactive bladder symptoms associated with MS.
Spasticity
Multiple types of muscle stiffness and spasms that MS patients suffer are referred to as spasticity. Botox injections in specific areas can temporarily calm tense muscles.
Your anti-age MD should make treatment recommendations specific to you based on their assessment of the size, intensity, location, and number of muscles implicated.
Direct injections are given into the spastic regions. They should be repeated when the symptoms subside, with a minimum of 12 weeks between sessions.
A 2015 retrospective study investigated the administration of Botox to more than 100 MS patients in a rehabilitation center. Based on the severity of the handicap, the treatment aims included increasing comfort, mobility, and nursing care.
Injections were given to 65 percent of the population, and they did so again since they found a benefit with few side effects.
Crossed-Eyes
Crossed eyes, commonly known as strabismus, can be treated with FDA-approved Botox injections. In this case, numbing eye drops are applied first, and then the injections are given directly into the eye. The chosen muscle is identified using a special needle.
During the first week of treatment, results are frequently seen. When the effects of the initial dose have worn off, treatment can be repeated in about 50 percent of patients to get the desired response (usually between 4 to 12 weeks). This therapy can be used on its own and in conjunction with surgery.
The medication was authorized to treat strabismus based on an open-label trial involving more than 600 people. Moreover, half of the subjects experienced advantages at least six months after the injection.
Conclusion
Botox is not just for getting rid of wrinkles! If you are struggling with any of these issues, it might be worth considering getting some Botox injections. Search for “anti-aging doctor near me” to see if this is the right treatment for you.
Bioidentical hormones, weight loss, and CoolSculpting are the areas of specialization of Melinda Silva, MD, a San Diego anti-aging and wellness medical clinic in Chula Vista. Request a consultation for anti-aging in Los Angeles now.