by Botulinum toxin, or Botox as it is commonly known, is known for its ability to smooth wrinkles. But hiding our frown lines from the world isn’t the reason early scientists started experimenting with this substance.
Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. In its rawest form it can cause the fatal disease botulism. But in the form in which it is used in the cosmetic and medical industries, it is so diluted and processed that it does not pose a risk.
Botox was first used medically in the 1970s by an American ophthalmologist named Alan Scott to help patients with a condition called strabismus (commonly known as strabismus). The doctor noticed that when injected around the eye, it not only helped treat strabismus, but also reduced wrinkles and lines.
Given the public fascination with looking younger, there was great interest in this discovery. Nevertheless, it was not approved for cosmetic use by drug regulators in the US until 2002, and in numerous other countries since then.
Here’s how it’s most commonly used today: In 2023, nearly 9 million injections were administered worldwide to reduce wrinkles. However, it is also still widely used for a variety of medical purposes. Here are some surprising ones:
Eye disorders
People with eye conditions may benefit from Botox injections. The most common eye conditions treated in this way are strabismus and blepharospasm (twitching of the eyelids).
When a person looks cross-eyed, the muscles that control eye movements are out of sync, meaning each eye looks in a different direction. Botox injections help relax these muscles, correcting the misalignment.
Patients with blepharospasm, on the other hand, experience an involuntary contraction of the muscles around their eyes, leading to eyelid twitching or increased blinking. Botox injections administered around the eye relax the muscles involved in blinking, reducing muscle twitching and discomfort.
The positive effects of Botox in the treatment of blepharospasm appear to last between 12 and 14 weeks. For strabismus, the benefits can last up to six months.
Excessive sweating
Although sweating is an essential bodily function that regulates temperature, excessive sweating can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. This condition, known as hyperhidrosis, can be caused by a number of factors, including diabetes, thyroid disease or menopause.
Regular antiperspirants have little effect in reducing this excessive sweating, so some patients turn to Botox injections. These work by numbing the nerves that stimulate sweating, reducing the amount of sweat produced. Users must repeat the injections every four months to a year to see lasting benefits.
Migraine
Some migraine patients experience such debilitating symptoms that they can no longer perform their daily activities. Botox injections can help prevent migraines in people who experience them regularly (at least eight per month) and for whom other treatments have not worked. Botox blocks the brain’s pain signals, blunting or preventing these attacks.
People who have used Botox in this way not only report experiencing about half the number of migraine attacks, but also that they experience less pain during an attack. Injections are usually needed every 12 weeks.
Overactive bladder
An overactive bladder causes you to urinate much more often than normal. This can be extremely embarrassing and have a major impact on a person’s quality of life. Although pelvic floor exercises and certain medications can help, they don’t always work for everyone.
Botox injections are an alternative. One of the causes of an overactive bladder is that the bladder muscles are more tense than necessary. Botox relaxes these muscles, making the urge to urinate less frequent. These effects can last six months to a year, after which repeated injections are required.
No-burp syndrome
While inability to burp may not seem like an obvious problem, it can be distressing for those who do experience it. Burping is the body’s way of removing digestive gases. Failure to remove these gases can lead to bloating and discomfort.
People who cannot burp have a rare condition known as retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction or “no-burp syndrome.” With this condition, the muscles in the neck that allow us to release digestive gases cannot relax, preventing the body from releasing these air bubbles. This can lead to increased gas, bloating, nausea and even painful hiccups.
Botox is now being used to help people with this condition. Injections in the neck relax the muscles that prevent burping. This allows the gases to pass through unhindered.
Depression
Botox could potentially even be used to treat long-term depression in people who have not responded to other treatments.
Numerous studies have shown that patients with depression who received Botox injections noticed an improvement in their mood. Although the reason for this is not entirely clear, some scientists think it may be related to how our facial muscles and facial expressions make us feel. Because Botox numbs these muscles, it is thought to send certain signals to our brain that improve our mood.
Botox has therefore proven to be more than just a one-hit wrinkle-softening wonder. Not only does it help people suffering from various medical conditions live normal lives, but it is also being researched to treat a variety of other medical problems. These include pain, chronic itching, and even managing the side effects of cancer treatment.
This article was originally published on The conversation Through Philip Crilly bee Kingston University. Read the original article here.
