It seems that people use Botox synonymously with "anti-wrinkle solution." And while that is one of the most common uses of Botox treatment, it's by no means the only thing that Botox can do for you.
In fact, Botox can be used to help relieve a number of different ailments and disorders. The uses for Botox range from treating acne to depression.
We're going to go over 7 uses for Botox other than fighting wrinkles. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Migraine Relief
People who suffer from migraines understand the desperation to find a treatment that works for them. An estimated 6 million people suffer from migraines in the UK alone.
Migraines are intense headaches that can cause:
- Intense head and neck pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sensitivity to sound
Migraines can prevent people from working and from living a normal life. Chronic migraine victims can experience 15 or more headache days per month. That's more days suffering than not.
Many treatments for migraines don't work, or at least they don't work all the time. Pain medications can be addictive and dangerous as well.
That's where Botox comes in. While it's not completely known how Botox helps prevent migraines, there is ample proof showing that it does. Studies show that not only does Botox reduce the number of headache days, but it can also reduce the severity of headaches you do get.
Botox will be injected into the head and neck areas. It's believed that it helps block pain signals that would normally result in the pain and sensitivity caused by migraines.
2. Excessive Sweating
Excessive sweating, medically known as hyperhidrosis, can be quite embarrassing and distressing for those who experience it.
The good news is that Botox injection can prevent excessive sweating from occurring. Botox will be injected into the area that you experience the excessive sweating, usually the armpits, palms, etc.
The Botox then interacts with the sweat glands and essentially prevents the brain from communicating with the glands properly. Without receiving the brain signal to "start sweating", the glands won't produce sweat, or at least as much sweat as was being produced before.
This treatment option is usually tried after a patient has tried prescription deodorants and antiperspirants. The effects of this Botox treatment last up to 9 months, so it will need to be done on a semi-regular basis to keep the sweating controlled.
3. Acne
One of the next most popular Botox uses is for the management of acne. Acne is caused by an excess production of sebum, which is a type of natural oil.
When Botox is injected into areas with excessive acne, it can help stop oil production in that area. This will prevent further breakouts, and it can even lessen current breakouts as well.
This treatment isn't usually recommended until after other treatment methods have been tried, since you'll also get the "facial freezing" effects on Botox in your face as well.
Botox as an acne treatment is most common for the face, the forehead in particular.
4. Depression
This is the wild card of the bunch: how could Botox injection possible help a mental health disorder like depression? While there hasn't been too much evidence, there are a few exciting studies that suggest that Botox injections could relieve depression symptoms.
One study looked at over 70 people diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The study found that over half of the patients treated with Botox injections reported a significant decrease in their depression symptoms.
The connection between Botox and depression isn't entirely understood, but it's believed that our facial expression have a direct link to our mental health. If Botox affects our facial expressions, this could lead to a change in depression symptoms.
5. Overactive Bladder
Like excessive sweating, an overactive bladder is distressing and embarrassing for patients. People with an overactive bladder can leak urine, wet the bed, and feel the need to urinate constantly.
Botox can work as a muscle relaxant. When you have an overactive bladder, your muscles are contracting too often, which leads to feeling the need to urinate (or to actual urine leakage) constantly.
Injecting Botox into the bladder muscles forces them to relax, which will lessen the excessive contractions. One study showed a significant reduction in the number of leaks people experienced each day when they were treated with Botox injections.
6. Temporary Face "Lift"
Facelifts are surgical procedures that can give you a more youthful and "tightened" look. Not everyone is ready for, or wants to have, a surgical procedure.
Botox can provide you some of the benefits that you would see with a traditional facelift without having to go through surgery. Botox can be used to temporarily "lift" or "fill" certain areas of the face to give the illusion of a facelift.
You can shape the nose, areas around the lips, the jaw, chin, forehead, and more with Botox injections.
7. Neck Spasms
We already mentioned how Botox can be used as a muscle relaxant. People suffering from neck pain and neck spasms can get some relief with Botox injections.
The use of Botox to treat neck pain and spasms was one of the first alternative treatment methods approved; this treatment has been around for a while with thousands of personal success stories along with scientific support.
The Botox will be injected into the neck, similar to the injections used for migraine relief. This will prevent abnormal spasming and can help relieve any tension or stiffness in the neck that's causing pain.
Uses for Botox Besides Wrinkle Treatments: Wrapping Up
The uses for Botox don't end with wrinkle treatments, and they don't end with this list either. Botox can be used to help with so many different ailments, disorders, and aesthetics desires that it's almost a miracle treatment.
If you've been considering Botox for any of these ailments, or simply just to smooth out some fine lines, don't hesitate to contact us. We can set you up with an appointment in Birmingham or answer any questions that you might still have.
