Cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, strabismus, and hyperhidrosis are conditions for which Botox treatment is approved.
Botox treatment works by blocking signals that cause muscles to spasm.
Relief comes with the relaxation of the affected muscles.
The active ingredient in Botox, which is an injectable medication, is a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin type A.
This neurotoxin is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum.
Botox treatment decreases the occurrence of spasms in cervical dystonia.
Also called spasmodic torticollis, it is a neurological movement disorder in which the muscles of the neck spasm uncontrollably, thus forcing the neck or head into uncomfortable positions and motions that are often painful.
Common symptoms of cervical dystonia include pain at the neck and shoulders, problems swallowing, tightness of the muscles, and tremors.
The incidence of twitching is also reduced by Botox treatment in the condition called blepharospasm.
In this condition, the muscles around the eye twitch involuntarily and sometimes force the eyes to narrow or close, thus impairing vision.
Common symptoms of blepharospasm are excessive blinking, sensitivity of the eyes to light, pain or soreness in the eyes and surrounding areas, uncontrollable tics of the eye muscles and surrounding facial areas, and unusually dry or watery eyes.
Strabismus is characterized by the misalignment of the eyes.
This is caused by the lack of coordination among the muscles that control eye movements.
As a result, the eyes can not focus on the same point in space so that there is no proper binocular vision.
Depth perception is affected by this.
Botox treatment can help correct this condition by relaxing certain muscles that control eye movement.
The exact cause of hyperhidrosis, a disorder in which there is abnormally excessive sweating, is not known.
In hyperhidrosis, the amount of perspiration far exceeds what is required for the control of body temperature.
The whole body can be affected, in general hyperhidrosis, or only parts such as the groin, underarms, hands, and feet, in localized hyperhidrosis.
Botox treatment has proven to be effective in reducing excessive sweating.
The appearance of facial lines and wrinkles can also be diminished by Botox treatment.
The results are not overly dramatic as the appearance is not radically changed, but there is a high level of satisfaction among those who use it.
The use of Botox for the treatment of wrinkles and lines is highly popular and its fame continues to increase.
Botox treatment must be used with caution.
This is because the active ingredient of Botox is a highly potent poison.
The administration of Botox for any of the conditions described above may cause the occurrence of a number of side effects.
The use of Botox is also precluded by certain conditions.
In view of these, the administration of Botox must be done only by a qualified medical practitioner.
Botox is actually a brand name under which botulinum toxin type A is commercially marketed.
Other brand names are Dysport, Myobloc, Neurobloc and Xeomin.
Botox Cosmetic and Vistabel are brand names for the variety that is specially made for cosmetic purposes.