Banishing Wrinkles
Are wrinkles the bane of your existence? If you’re still young, then you’re lucky enough to have the smooth skin the rest of the population covets. But eventually, you too will succumb to creases and lines, because unfortunately, wrinkles are just a fact of life. So how do you prevent them when you’re young and deal with them when you’re older?
Prevention
Prevention is the best way to keep wrinkles at bay. Scientists have found that excessive UV exposure (ie suntanning and staying out in the sun unprotected) is a primary cause of wrinkles, as well as a number of other complexion problems including roughness and pigmentation irregularities. No matter how old you are, you must dutifully wear sunblock and protective clothing when you’re outside for extended periods of time.
We’re sure you’ve heard this before, but it’s worth reiterating: you’ll be rewarded with great skin if you lead a healthy lifestyle that features a diet dominated by fresh fruit, vegetables and fatty fish, as well as a good exercise regimen, and the consumption of fresh water daily. And don’t forget to keep your skin moisturized, since dry skin is more prone to wrinkles!
Treatment
Once a wrinkle appears, it’s now time to seek a solution that actually works. While there are a number of treatments available out there all designed to erase wrinkles, few are able to work their magic on deeper creases like BOTOX.
BOTOX is a purified protein that is derived from Clostridium botulinum, a toxin that is, indeed, fatal. However, although BOTOX is a poison, in controlled minute doses, it has more than just aesthetic benefits; the substance delivers amazing therapeutic benefits as well. It is able to effectively and safely treat eye disorders, migraines, spasticity, urinary incontinence and excessive sweating, amongst a growing list of other serious medical conditions. But let’s get back to wrinkles!
A Little Technical Information
Dynamic wrinkles are those creases in the skin that are caused by the repeated contractions of muscles located in the area. For example, when you frown, you’ll notice creases appear most likely around your eyes and across your forehead. Well, as we age, the skin can no longer bounce back from this creasing and eventually, the creases become deeper and deeper (and the skin eventually becomes permanently creased).
The botulinum toxin that is BOTOX is administered by injection into the muscle generating the wrinkle in the skin on top of it. Once injected, the substance acts to block transmission at the neuromuscular level. This is done by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, the chemical that is responsible for activating the muscles to contract. By impairing the communication between nerves and muscles, the targeted muscle gradually relaxes and can no longer contract as much as before. The overlying skin then relaxes as well, since it no longer creases. With time, the skin smoothes out so even permanent wrinkles fade as well. This is why BOTOX has become the most popular wrinkle treatment conducted by doctors in North America.
BOTOX is has been proven to be safe and effective time and time again by research supported by the FDA and Health Canada.