If you haven't heard of the latest treatments in the fight against wrinkles, Botox and collagen injections, then you have probably been under a very heavy rock. These invasive injection procedures are increasingly more common than ever before with little to no signs of slowing down. These antiwrinkle treatments use external agents to fill folds and crinkles or by relaxing the muscles that create wrinkles and fine lines. While the media continues to rave about the effectiveness of Botox and collagen injections in treating wrinkles, all is not glitter and gold. As with many skin care products, comes a downside to the hype. We'll start with botulinum toxin type A, better known as Botox.
If you have been paying the slightest attention to breakthroughs in the skin care industry, then Botox injections is at the top of the list. It's nearly impossible to see, hear, or read about anti-aging skin care without Botox being mentioned.
Botox comes from a bacterium that causes botulism, a typed of food poisoning. Botulism is extremely dangerous and can result in paralysis and in some cases, death if it goes untreated. Botox is a watered-down version of the botulism toxin. Botox treatments are used to combat forehead lines, crow's feet, and other kinds of wrinkles. One of the biggest selling points for this type of treatment is that it's a quick and easy method for removing unsightly wrinkles.
Botox is by far one of the best methods for treating motion or expression wrinkles by paralyzing the affected muscles but that's where the benefits end. Here's what you probably did not know about Botox injections:
1. Botox is completely ineffective against sun damage (the #1 cause of premature aging), fine lines, rough skin, and even acne scars.
2. Regular injections actually thin the skin causing skin problems.
3. The effects of botox injections are temporary and wear off within 3 to 6 months requiring constant and costly maintenance because your wrinkles are ONLY being treated externally.
4. Finally, the skin adjacent to where a patient receives botox injections may become wrinkled.
Now that you're a little more informed about Botox, what about collagen? Collagen injections are a little less eccentric than Botox in treating wrinkles but almost as popular. Collagen injections are effective against fine lines and wrinkles that are not caused by facial expressions. So, this treatment is effective against the wrinkles that Botox can't hide. This is accomplished with collagen being injected into the dermis layer to plump up the skin and smooth out wrinkles.
There are three types of collagens available today, bovine, avian, and human collagen. Bovine collagen is more common and is taken from cows and then purified to make it look like human collagen. Some individuals are allergic to bovine collagen, so skin tests are required before treatment begins. The same goes for avian collagen which is derived from birds. Collagen is injected at the site of the wrinkles and causes mild discomfort. The collagen treatment remains effective for up to 6 months. As you age and deeper lines form in your skin, the injections lose their effectiveness and require more frequent treatments, as often as every few weeks.
Fortunately, the science of anti-wrinkle skin care continues to produce even more effective treatments to battle the signs of aging. One of the most promising alternatives to Botox and collagen injections is a compound called Acetyl Hexapeptide-3. There is anecdotal evidence that is produces the same results as Botox minus the needles, toxicity, cost or the risk of further damage to the skin. This breakthrough skin care ingredient is found in an all-in-one skin cream called LifeCell that has been quietly shaking up the skin care products industry.
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