Botox Alternatives for Lines and Wrinkles
You’ve probably heard about the recent controversy over Botox and its potential complications. Citing 658 complications and 16 fatalities, the advocacy group, Public Citizen, is petitioning for a “black box” label to appear on Botox to warn consumers and doctors. So naturally, you might be concerned. Our skin care and cosmetic dermatology expert Dr. Nelson Lee Novick clears up the controversy and concludes, “Botox has proven itself over the decades to be a safe and highly effective treatment for a variety of conditions, and I predict that its use and indications will continue to grow well into the future. For details, make sure to read “Dr. Nelson Lee Novick Responds to Botox Controversy,” http://skincare-news.com/experts.php?ExpID=5. But even if Botox is safe, you might look to other options to provide you with effective anti-aging results. Find effective treatments below.
So how do fine lines and wrinkles actually appear? Who or what is really to blame?
• Facial expressions. When we smile, laugh, frown or squint, we use facial muscles. So, naturally over the years, lines and wrinkles develop.
• Environmental enemies. Pollution, chemicals, automotive exhaust, wind and UVA/UVB sun rays attack skin. These environmental factors cause skin to break down, resulting in wrinkles.
• Collagen loss. Collagen is vital in structuring our skin, keeping it soft, smooth and plump. We have lots of collagen when we’re young, but with age, collagen decreases and wrinkles form.
• Moisture loss. When skin loses moisture, it becomes drier, contributing to wrinkles. Imagine a wrinkly raisin - basically a dried-up grape!
• Smoking. Toxins in smoke are extremely harmful to skin. Smoke also causes eye irritation, making you squint and leading to wrinkles. If you smoke, do yourself - and your skin! - a favor by quitting.
A bit of background on Botox
Botox uses the bacteria Clostridium botulinum to paralyze certain facial muscles, preventing you from making wrinkle-causing expressions. FDA approved for reducing wrinkles between the eyebrows, Botox is also used on crow’s feet, lines on the neck, creases in the chin, smoothing out frown lines and more. The FDA reports possible side effects of droopy eyelids that may last for a few weeks, flu-like symptoms, headache and upset stomach. Botox is very popular and many women and men love their results: In 2006, 4.1 million people had Botox injections. But not everyone chooses it. Some women may be afraid of possible complications, while for others, Botox isn’t an affordable option. Indeed Botox requires commitment - repeat injections every four to six months.
Taking preventative measures
Like eating a wholesome diet and exercising, preventative measures are vital for a healthy lifestyle. Why not do the same for your skin.
• A crucial anti-aging step for preventing lines and wrinkles is protecting your skin from sun damage. Choose a broad spectrum product with a high SPF, like Obagi-C Rx System C SunGuard SPF 30, and apply it every day for the rest of your life!
• Defend your skin from wrinkle-causing harsh pollution and environmental damage with NeoStrata Ultra Skin Smoothing Cream AHA 10 with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Encouraging new healthy cells to replace old dead cells, AHAs exfoliate dull or dry skin for a smoother look.
• Similarly, ceramides shield skin from pollution, smoke and other environmental threats to prevent wrinkles. Try an eye cream like Bliss All-Around Eye Cream that contains ceramides to protect your skin.
• Help your skin maintain its collagen and elastin levels while staving off lines and wrinkles with Peter Thomas Roth Wrinkle Preventer.
• Diet may also prevent wrinkles. In a study from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, researchers determined that a healthy balanced diet of mono-unsaturated fat, fish, low-fat dairy, nuts, green veggies, fruits and whole grains correlated with fewer wrinkles in people over 70. However, eating high-fat dairy products and sweets was associated with more wrinkles in people the same age. Veggies, for instance, are important in an anti-wrinkle diet because of their antioxidant levels. Mom always told you to eat your veggies - follow that advice to prevent lines and wrinkles!
Treating lines and wrinkles
Dermatologists say that these ingredients are especially beneficial for your anti-aging arsenal:
• Peptides are proteins that help produce new collagen and fill out wrinkles. Try Kinerase C6 Peptide Intensive Treatment, which, unlike Botox, works on fine lines and deep creases. Peptides may also relax facial muscles and nerves to reduce new wrinkles. Dr. Brandt Crease Release provides this effect.
• Retinol - a type of vitamin A - encourages new healthy cells to replace damaged cells and forms new collagen to fill wrinkles. Retinol works well with peptides, Dr. Patricia Wexler, dermatology professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, tells Allure. A great choice is M.D. Forte Rejuvenating Eye Cream w/ Retinol to defend skin and reduce wrinkles.
• Antioxidants like vitamin C and grape-seed extract defend skin from free radical damage, according to Allure. You may need to use these ingredients for several weeks before noticing major improvement in your lines and wrinkles, so be patient. Try oil-free Cellex-C Eye Contour Gel with vitamin C to treat fine wrinkles and aid collagen production.
Dermatologist’s in-office procedures also provide effective alternatives:
• Microdermabrasion uses special crystal particles that remove the outer layer of dead skin and minimize fine wrinkles. According to Dr. Brian Zelickson of the University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Dermatology, microdermabrasion also helps with skin cell renewal and new collagen formation. However, like Botox, this option won’t work well on deeper wrinkles.
• Chemical peels treat wrinkles and fine lines. Different types of chemicals may be used, like glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid or lactic acid, depending on the desired “depth” of the peel. When the chemicals are applied, you might feel heat, prickling or stinging. The chemicals produce a reaction that will make skin turn red, blister and peel away, revealing newer, smoother skin with fewer wrinkles. Possible risks may include scarring, changes in skin pigment or cold sores. If you opt for a chemical peel, be sure to use a cream afterwards to soothe itchiness and flaking while helping skin to heal. One to try is Peter Thomas Roth Post Peel Healing Balm.
• Fillers involve injections of substances like Hyaluronic acid or collagen. They plump skin and add moisture. Results from fillers, which are effective in filling in deep creases, may last longer than Botox. But, like Botox, needles are involved.
The bottom line
If Botox isn’t for you, you have an array of options that can prevent or treat your lines and wrinkles.