Botox has gotten a slightly bad reputation. The first thing most people think about when they hear the word are celebrities with frozen unnatural faces. Although it’s most commonly used as an effective treatment for skin wrinkles, there’s more to Botox than that. There are actually tons of uses for this type of skin treatment that go beyond just cosmetic purposes. If you suffer from any of the following conditions, it might just be the solution for you:
Crossed Eyes (Strabismus)
Botox was actually initially created with the intention of treating people with crossed eyes and facial muscle spasms. It was often used to cure people who experienced involuntary facial muscle spasms and uncontrollable blinking. It works by relaxing muscles in the eye and the face, but it can only do so temporarily. The effect lasts for at least three to four months at most, until the Botox wears off as muscle cells grow new receptors. Regular treatment makes the effect last much longer, though. These uses are among seven FDA-approved applications of the drug.
Overactive Bladder
Urinary incontinence, also known as loss of bladder control, can be caused by stress or motor impairment. Botox can be used to treat an overactive bladder by calming the nerves and reducing the number of muscle contractions in that area. This allows you more time to control your bladder until you arrive at the bathroom whenever you need to urinate. The only problem is sometimes it can work too well and a doctor might need to pass a catheter into your bladder to drain the urine instead.
Severe Chronic Migraines
When you’ve exhausted most regular treatments against throbbing chronic migraines, Botox may be the next best solution for you. You only need to meet particular criteria to be eligible for this type of treatment. That is if your migraines have lasted four hours a day or longer for more than 15 days a month. This treatment is usually deployed by a neurologist who will inject the drug into your hairline and scalp area.
Excessive Underarm Sweating
Excessively sweaty underarms will benefit from a Botox injection which effectively blocks the nerve signals that induce sweating. This blocks the sweat glands from overproducing sweat. As with treating crossed eyes, the effects are only temporary and last for three to six months on average since nerves tend to regenerate. You’ll need to come back for a reinjection every few months or so. Regular treatment has been known to increase its potency and make it last longer. This treatment is also used for excessively sweaty hands and feet.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
TMJ symptoms primarily affect the jaw and manifest in pain, stiffness, difficulty chewing, and even lockjaw. Botox injections are used to relax the muscles around the jaw to manage pain and reduce tension that might be caused by clenching and grinding. A treatment session involves injecting Botox into the temple, forehead, and jaw muscles. A single session can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, and you might have three to four sessions over the course of a few months or as needed.
If you suffer from any of these conditions, you might want to pay your healthcare provider a visit to see if this type of treatment is right for you.