Competitiveness in the cosmetics treatments industry has been increasing rapidly. The industry is completely saturated by multinational companies using different strategies to take over the market. One of the tried and tested approaches they rely on is anti-aging neurotoxins injectables. Anti-aging neurotoxins are not new to the market; they have been around for years. However, they are becoming more prevalent as people look for ways to slow down aging. Likewise, neurotoxins have applications in the medical field.
The most common anti-aging neurotoxins are Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport. These products work by blocking nerve signals from reaching muscles in the face, reducing muscle contractions, and preventing wrinkles from forming on the skin.
What Are Neurotoxins?
You might wonder why we are using neurotoxins for cosmetic and medical purposes. As the name implies, they are literal toxins. While they are toxins, we will show you how they work and why they are used. Neurotoxins are chemical compounds that can damage the nervous system. They can be natural or synthetic. Neurotoxins may also be called neurotoxicants, neurotoxic substances, or neurologic poisons. Neurotoxic substances are not always poisons and vice versa, but they both target the nervous system in some way to cause harm.
Neurotoxins can come from numerous sources such as plants, animals, the environment, and even food supply (e.g., pesticides). Some of these substances may not cause an immediate reaction but may take years to manifest in any form of neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Parkinson’s). However, we won’t turn to just any neurotoxin; we will use botulinum toxin.
What Is Botulinum Toxin?
Botulinum toxin is a powerful neurotoxin created by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It’s also by far one of the most potent toxins humanity has discovered. Botulinum toxin blocks the discharge of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that transmits nerve impulses to muscles. The result is muscle weakness, which can be used for therapeutic purposes.
Why Are We Using Neurotoxins For Anti-Aging?
These neurotoxins are undoubtedly dangerous, but if a medical expert applies them, the toxin can be useful in so many ways. So why and how do we use these anti-aging neurotoxins? We use them precisely because of their properties. Aging is natural, but it may occur earlier than expected, probably because we are experiencing constant stress and other environmental factors. Due to excessive damage and use, our muscles eventually wear themselves out. We can slowly but surely see signs of aging rearing their unwanted heads.
To slow down or remove some signs of aging, we need a way to stop our muscles from contracting. However, no surface skincare product or treatment can do that. We need a way to prevent the muscles from contracting and entangling themselves. As you’ve might’ve guessed, we take advantage of neurotoxins. Neurotoxins, or specifically, botulinum toxin, targets the nervous system. Your muscles only contract when the nervous system delivers the command from the brain to the muscles.
By interrupting that line of communication, we effectively prevent more signs of aging due to wear. We also cause the muscles to relax and untangle since there is no command from the brain, reducing existing wrinkles.
Botulinum Toxin Applications
Botulinum toxin is the standard ingredient used in anti-aging neurotoxin treatment. Due to its amount of testing and research, it is also one of the safest. The toxin effectively removes wrinkles and treats excessive sweating and muscle spasms. They work by intercepting the nerve signals from reaching the muscles, preventing them from working. While it temporarily paralyzes them, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are bad for you.
Your medical or cosmetic provider will only apply the treatment in small doses in specific areas. They can target your forehead, neck, cheeks, jawline, or anywhere in the body without negatively affecting the body or its surrounding areas. Botulinum toxin also can treat soften a square jawline, treat a gummy smile, and can be used to a certain extent as a facelifting procedure. A lot of people also seek botox to lessen wrinkles on their hands.
Applying botulinum toxin isn’t just for anyone to do. Anyone can paralyze the muscle, but not everyone can balance anesthetics and at the same time manage signs of aging. If you are not cautious, you may select providers that may make your face appear stiff!
What Anti-Aging Treatments Utilize Botulinum Toxin?
Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport are three injectable treatments for wrinkles and lines. They help soften the appearance of facial lines and other unwanted signs of aging. They all utilize the same botulinum toxin, but they are different enough not to be used interchangeably.
The most significant difference between Botox and Dysport is the duration of the results. Botox lasts longer than Dysport and can last up to four months, while Dysport lasts three months. The other difference is that Dysport causes more drooping eyebrows than Botox or Xeomin, which can be corrected with an eyebrow lift after completion of treatment.
Xeomin is a neurotoxin that works similarly to Botox but has a longer duration of effect (about 6 months). It also has fewer side effects than Botox, such as drooping eyelids or extreme muscle weakness.
Which Ones Are Right For You?
Comparing the three anti-aging treatments is a typical hot topic in social media, but are they even comparable?
All three treatments work as they were advertised. However, Botox is the famous one of the three treatments, essentially already a household name. But does that mean that you should disregard the others?
Picking which treatment is right for you depends on your goals. Be sure to consult a doctor or an esthetician before picking which treatments suits you best. Each has its pros and cons and has different price ranges.
Takeaway about Neurotoxins
Neurotoxins are toxins, but their applications are very flexible, and it’s both used as anti-aging neurotoxins and other medical applications. However, to ensure that there are no dissatisfaction or mishaps, you need to find the best provider and clinic. If you are interested, reach out to Cloud 9 MedSpa. They offer services that can be adjusted based on your needs and goals.
