Botox May be Effective Treatment for Acne According to New Study

What most people know about Botox is that it treats fine lines and wrinkles. Botox has been an extremely popular anti-aging treatment for over 10 years. However, what most people don’t realize is that indications for Botox stretch far beyond fine lines and wrinkle treatment. Botox has been approved to treat urinary incontinence (overactive bladder), muscle spasms, excess sweating and more.  According to Anil Shah, a plastic surgeon in Chicago, Botox may even be a new treatment for acne. "Botox definitely clears up acne," Shah said. Acne starts when the sebaceous glands (in the skin) produce and release too much sebum (oil) into the pores. The excess oil serves as sustenance for acne-producing bacteria which causes the pores to become inflamed – resulting in acne. For some of his patients, Shah has been injecting Botox directly into the skin (instead of the muscles between the eyebrows) to prevent the production of sebum. So far, Shah’s study has only included 20 patients, but the results have been good. After one month, patients experienced an improvement in sebum production and a decrease in overall pore size. Also, patients were happy with the results.

Is Botox right for you?

Shah wants to make it clear though, that Botox as an acne treatment isn’t for everyone. "I only treat patients over 20-years-old," he says. "Their hormonal changes are likely permanent. For them Botox is now the safest most effective treatment we have." If you’re interested in learning more about Botox as an acne treatment, you should meet with a qualified cosmetic provider or dermatologist who can properly assess your skin care needs. Source: Medical Daily