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What's
up with Botox?
What is it?
Botox is a diluted form of botulinum toxin
type A. Botulinum is a protein produced by the
bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This same
protein is the nerve toxin that can cause botulism,
a serious illness that can be fatal. However,
when used for cosmetic or medical purposes, Botox
is used in such small amounts that you are not
at risk of contracting botulism.
What is it used for?
Most commonly, Botox is used for cosmetic
purposes. It is used to improve the appearance
of lines that develop between the eyes (frown
lines), at the outer corners of the eyes (crow's
feet or laugh lines), and on the forehead. However,
botulinum was originally developed to treat other
conditions, including uncontrollable blinking
(blepharospasm), misaligned eyes (strabismus),
and severe neck and shoulder muscle spasms (cervical
dystonia - also known as spasmodic torticollis
or wry neck). It is also used to treat foot problems
caused by muscle spasms in children with cerebral
palsy, excessive underarm sweating, and arm and
leg muscle spasms associated with stroke in adults.
How does it work?
When the muscles around the brows, eyes,
and forehead contract (or tighten), it can cause
the skin around the area to crease. As a person
gets older, the elasticity of the skin lessens
and muscle contractions may cause the skin to
wrinkle. Botox is injected directly into muscles
and blocks the release of acetylcholine, a chemical
that normally causes muscle contraction. With
Botox, the muscles relax and the skin becomes
smoother.
Does it work?
In clinical studies, Botox has been tested
in people who have lines between the brows, on
the outer corners of the eyes, and on the forehead.
The doctors and patients in the studies felt that
these wrinkle lines were reduced with the Botox
therapy. The effects lasted up to 120 days for
lines between the brows. For lines on the forehead
and at the outer corners of the eyes, the effects
lasted for up to 24 weeks and 16 weeks, respectively.
It takes about 7 days for Botox to relax the
muscles around the eyes and forehead. If you have
deep creases, they may still show after Botox
treatment.
Is it safe?
In general, Botox is safe. However, it can
cause side effects, including:
- a droopy eyelid
- nausea
- bruises, stinging or redness at the injection
site. Ice applied directly to the site may reduce
pain, swelling, and redness. Bruising can be
minimized by avoiding ASA (Aspirin®) or
other anti-inflammatory medications for 7 days
before the injection. Be sure to talk to your
doctor before stopping any medication you take
on a regular basis.
- headaches that may last for several weeks.
Headaches can be relieved with over-the-counter
pain relievers.
- skin tightness
- tingling or prickling sensations
Avoid using Botox during pregnancy, if you are
breast-feeding, or if you have a neuromuscular
medical condition such as myasthenia gravis.
What else is Botox used for?
Researchers are testing Botox to see if it
is effective for other medical conditions. Besides
those conditions listed above, Botox has been
used to treat people with:
- low back pain that is resistant to traditional
pain medications
- migraine and tension headaches
- chronic pain conditions
- difficulty swallowing or speaking
- difficulty urinating due to spinal cord injury
- muscle spasms of the jaw
What's the bottom line?
Botox is a popular non-surgical treatment
used to improve the appearances of wrinkles. It
is generally considered safe. However, the effects
are temporary and the injection will need to be
repeated every 3-6 months. For more information
on Botox or if you have any questions, speak to
your Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist.
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