The aesthetic benefits of Botox® Cosmetic are the anti-aging success story of the 21st century. Researchers first developed Botox to treat eye movement disorders, and they have continued to find new therapeutic applications, with no sign of an end in sight.
Rosacea is a common skin problem that produces blotchy red skin, flushing, and enlarged blood vessels. Because of the effects of rosacea, you may wonder if it rules out your candidacy for Botox treatments.
The team at Bayview General Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, led by Dr. Richard Blanchar, has great news for you. Not only can you have Botox to treat wrinkles formed by expression muscles, but research also supports the use of Botox as a treatment for rosacea. Here’s what you need to know.
The active ingredient in Botox is a neuromodulator, a substance that changes your body chemistry and tissue responses, although because it’s so dilute, these changes are local to places where the substance is injected.
For cosmetic use, we inject Botox into several expression muscles to reduce the profile of wrinkles caused by these muscles taking on a semi-permanent state of contraction. Common locations for these types of lines and wrinkles are the crow’s feet beside your eyes, your forehead, and the “elevens,” the pair of vertical worry lines above and between your eyes.
Having rosacea doesn’t affect your ability to have Botox injections as a cosmetic procedure. In fact, Botox is an effective rosacea treatment when applied differently from its aesthetic applications.
Botox blocks the actions of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which affects the nerves that cause vasodilation, the expansion of blood vessels that cause rosacea symptoms. This reduces flushing and blood vessels visible through the skin, two common indicators of an active rosacea outbreak.
Botox has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the effects of inflammation on the severity of rosacea outbreaks. Less inflammation also means less discomfort from your rosacea symptoms.
Mast cells are part of your body’s inflammatory responses and allergy reactions. Botox injections reduce the activity, limiting the damage these immune cells contribute.
When used for line and wrinkle reduction, Botox is injected directly into a series of expression muscles to reduce the degree of muscle compression. When the actions of acetylcholine in muscles are blocked, expressions relax and your skin smooths.
Botox off-label use in treating rosacea involves a series of tiny droplets injected shallowly into your skin, rather than deeper into muscle tissue. Results typically appear within two weeks, with significant redness reduction lasting up to six months. Individual results vary between patients.
Botox doesn’t represent a cure for rosacea, and it works best at reducing redness from only certain forms of rosacea.
The process starts in consultation with Dr. Blanchar at Bayview General Medicine. Contact our Fort Lauderdale office by phone or online to schedule your appointment today.
