Three uses of botox you probably didn’t know about.

Botox is a fantastic treatment for lines and wrinkles on the face. Millions of people have used it over the past few decades to keep them looking young, fresh, and rejuvenated. But did you know that we also use Botox for other conditions? This blog will explore three other interesting ways in which your aesthetic doctor uses Botox.

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which a person sweats excessively. This can be under the arms or on the palms of the hands. No guidelines dictate what a “normal” amount of sweating is, but if you feel that you sweat a lot or that sweating interferes with your everyday life, this may be considered hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis is not dangerous to health. We sweat to cool down the body when we are hot. As sweat evaporates, it takes heat energy, which cools the body down. However, if you sweat too much, this can be embarrassing, especially in social situations.

So how does botox help with this hyperhidrosis?

Botulinum toxin blocks the nerve signals responsible for sweating, thereby stopping the sweat gland from producing too much sweat. When we treat an area of excessive sweating, such as the armpits, we can reduce sweating by up to 87%. The treatment can last for six months or more.

Migraines

Migraine is a neurological disorder in which a person experiences strong, throbbing headaches, which are usually one-sided and can be associated with nausea and sensitivity to light. The exact reason why migraines occur remains unknown. However, it is believed that abnormal brain activity is to blame. This abnormal activity affects various aspects of the brain, such as nerve signals, blood vessels, and neurotransmitters.

So how does botox help with migraines?

It’s not yet clear why Botox is so effective against migraines. However, doctors think that it works by inhibiting chemicals called neurotransmitters in the brain, which carry pain signals.

In contrast to the way we inject botox for cosmetic purposes, we inject botox for migraines differently. When we inject botox to treat lines and wrinkles on the forehead, we only target the small muscles in the forehead and around the eyes. However, we target the neck, shoulders, temples, and back of the head muscles for migraine treatment.

Bruxism

Bruxism is a condition in which people grind their teeth and clench their jaw excessively, which leads to jaw pain, headaches, tooth wear, and broken teeth. People who suffer from bruxism can also develop an enlarged masseter muscle (jaw muscle), giving their jaw a wide appearance. Many people do not realise they suffer from bruxism and can clench their jaws excessively at night. People with bruxism are usually advised to start wearing mouthguards by their dentists to prevent tooth damage.

So how does botox help with bruxism?

Botox is a muscle relaxant. By injecting botox into the masseter muscles on either side of the jaw, the muscle is weakened enough to stop the involuntary grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw, thereby alleviating the symptoms of bruxism.

Masseter botox can create a life-changing difference for people who suffer from bruxism. They will find that their jaw pain and headaches will dissipate, and they will have fewer dental issues due to excessive grinding, and many people can completely stop wearing their mouthguards. Lastly, a welcomed side effect of masseter botox is that is creates a slimming effect on the face.