Botox® could arguably be called the grandfather of injectable dermal fillers, capable of virtually erasing age-related signs like wrinkles, fine lines, deep folds and creases.
But it may come as a surprise to know that as more research is being done, more and more diverse uses are being discovered for Botox®, uses that have little or nothing whatsoever to do with signs of aging.
Although Botox® will continue to be a popular treatment to eradicate signs of aging and restore a more youthful appearance to your face without surgery, incisions, scars or downtime, the exciting new benefits of Botox® continue to emerge and cannot be ignored.
Botox® for Migraines
Unless you or someone you know well suffers from migraines, chances are you’re not aware of how debilitating they can be. People who suffer from chronic migraines have their lives disrupted, many times during a month and frequently without warning.
Migraine sufferers can experience headache pain, sometimes to the point of excruciating, extreme sensitivity to sound and light and intense nausea. They may have one or more of these symptoms occurring simultaneously, often incapacitating the individual for several hours.
It’s considered chronic migraines if you have them more than 15 days each month, with each episode lasting 4 hours or longer. Using Botox® has been proven to be effective in preventing these episodes, which affect 1 in 7 people.
A 20-minute treatment is all it takes to allow Botox® injections to be placed around the nerve fibers that the migraines trigger. Botox® blocks the transmission of the chemicals released during pain, so the brain’s pain network never receives the chemicals and is never activated.
The biggest benefits of the preventative element of Botox® injections are typically seen with multiple treatments. It’s still not known how or if Botox® can be used safely and effectively in individuals experiencing less than 15 migraines per month, so its use in those individuals is not recommended.
In fact, the most significant benefits are seen in patients who have even more than 15 episodes per month. Not only does Botox® reduce the number of migraines, if one does develop, but the severity and associated pain is also significantly decreased.
Botox® for Severe Sweating
Another FDA-approved use for Botox® is in the treatment of hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. The approval is based on underarm sweating, but many doctors have used it to treat excess sweating of the palms of the hand and on the soles of the feet.
This can be an embarrassing problem to try to deal with, especially when traditional treatments for sweating seem to have no effect at all. Botox® prevents the chemical that signals sweat gland activation from ever being released.
You’ll generally need multiple Botox® injections for treatment to take place, but you can enjoy the results for nearly a year.
Botox® for Other Applications
There are several other ways in which Botox® is being used, and even though FDA approval has not yet been made, some doctors are seeing successful results with their patients.
Some of the issues Botox® has helped to improve include:
- Improved urine flow
- UTI (urinary tract infection) prevention in men
- Correcting overactive bladder issues in women
- Managing acne
- Helps align strabismus (crossed-eyes)
- Lifts age-related saggy nose by simulating a nose job
Allergan, the corporate owner of Botox® currently has close to 800 patents for future treatments and additional therapeutic purposes. As they continue their research, there’s no doubt we will see even more beneficial treatments performed using Botox® injections.