Natural Skin Care

The uses of botox seem to be increasing all the time despite all the hype over its use; one has to wonder just what it is that this substance is and how it works.

To understand exactly what it is and does, we first have to look at just how this amazing miracle of modern science came to be. The first research into Botulinum toxin was carried out over five decades ago; originally the purpose of this was to treat neurological disorders.

Then a few decades later in 1989, the Federal Drug Administration in America finally approved its use to treat disorders associated with vision; patients suffering with uncontrollable blinking and crossed eyes were given this and sometimes those who suffered with wrinkles as well.

In the year 2000 it was approved to treat cervical dystonia; it was found to be effective at helping patients with neck and shoulder contractions but other eye disorders were included at the same time. In their research, doctors discovered that Botox softened the frown lines between the eyebrows; after this in 2002 the FDA approved it’s use on the condition that it was a cosmetic procedure.

When Botox is injected into the muscles of the forehead, it blocks nerve impulses which results in the weakening of the muscles that cause frowning; given sufficient treatments, frown lines that the person has lived with for many years will gradually fade. The lines will to the casual observer, disappear but the same process can now be used on laughter lines around the eyes and forehead lines as well. The injections are actually a diluted form of botulism; because of the purification process it can be used in cosmetic surgery.

The reason people want to use the injections is because every time you laugh, smile, frown, or for that matter do just about anything with your facial muscles, wrinkles are caused by the underlying contractions of these muscles. After years of making these expressions the wear and tear on your face begins to be noticeable and the lines start to become permanent; many cosmetic manufacturers have tried to create creams to eliminate the creases but this is the only treatment to date that can actually rid them from us.

After being injected into the effected area, botox temporarily paralyzes these muscles so that you can’t make these expressions; these treatments provide the user with a facial surface that is smooth and often referred to as looking like a dummy or mannequin.

Because frown line, wrinkles and facial creases have all but disappeared, it provides the user with a look of someone much younger. Whilst popular this cosmetic treatment is still very expensive for what it is; with injections in the low to very high hundreds of dollars each, it looks to remain expensive for some time to come. It may be a few years yet before we see the result of long term use of botox but that doesn’t seem to concern those people who are using it at this moment.