Every year, millions of people turn to Botox to achieve a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance. Botox typically has the power to relax wrinkles for up to three months, but recent studies show that the injections could have lasting positive effects on the skin’s elasticity. In this blog entry, Dr. Schlessinger shares an article from TODAY Health called, “Can Botox make your skin stretchier?” as well as a look at these studies and the future possibilities of Botox.
Botox may help stimulate collagen and elastin, says Dr. Joel Schlessinger.
Botox works by relaxing the muscles in the face that are associated with expressions like smiling, frowning and squinting. Those patients who get Botox frequently seem to have less inflammation and overall healthier-looking skin than those who don’t. While researchers are not yet clear on what could be causing Botox injections to render the skin more youthful and elastic, they suspect that the neurotoxin has the ability to stimulate skin cells called fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin, the proteins that lend structure and firmness to skin. As we age, skin elasticity can decrease to as little as 50 percent by age 70.
In a Toronto study conducted in 2012 and 2013, 43 women with an average age of 55 were given injections around and between their eyes. The skin was then measured with a device called a Cutometer to determine elasticity. The device was able to prove that the skin did become stretchier and more elastic. The effect wore off within about four months, slightly longer than the average, three-month wrinkle relaxing effects of Botox. Other theories currently being tested involve discovering whether Botox has the ability to “organize” collagen in the skin, or whether it’s possible that “freezing” or relaxing the muscle with Botox stops it from producing the waste that could lead to slack, tired skin.
Dr. Joel Schlessinger and other dermatologists continue to research the effects of Botox.
Finding a way for skin to organically produce more collagen and elastin is a long-term goal for Dr. Schlessinger and other physicians. While the ability of Botox to render skin more elastic still remains a mystery, the possibilities are exciting. Patients can continue to enjoy their usual excellent results and perhaps benefit even more in the long run.
Do you have a question for Dr. Schlessinger about Botox? Let us know in the comments section.