Is there really a "fountain of youth?".
There are many anti-aging procedures; methods that can be divided into chemical and nonchemical. They are all ways to keep aging at bay. However, one question is always present. How long can it last? Some chemical methods are creams (that contain retinoids), Microdermabrasion, Chemical peeling, Injectable fillers, Retinol creams, Botox, Laser and Pills. Non-chemical methods include Non-Ablative Rejuvenation, Light therapy, Exercise, Massage, Face lift, Mindset and Diet. We will cover one from each category, Botox and Light therapy. Firstly, let us talk about Botox. It was used safely in the United States for decades and was approved by the FDA in December, 19891. Botox is a neurotoxin protein that is called Botulinum toxin Type A, produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Highly toxic in high dosages, minute doses used is safe for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. Botox is a temporary moderate treatment, usually injected. It can block nerve impulses to the muscles or sweat glands, thus paralyzing the muscle or gland. Nerves release a chemical, acetylcholine, for muscles to contract when they meet muscle cells. The acetylcholine attaches to receptors on the muscle cells. These causes the muscle cells to contract or shorten. It also prevents the release of acetylcholine, thus preventing contraction of muscle cells. For acetylcholine to be released, Botox must be injected into the muscle.
Originally, Botox was used to restore people with spasmodic dysphonia (a vocal chord condition), restoring their voice to normal. It has also been used in treating eye twitches, excessive palm or armpit sweating and headaches. Further uses of Botox include: treatment of cervical dystonia (spasm of the muscles of the neck), reducing abnormal head position and neck pain; strabismus (misaligned or lazy eyes), to control the eyeball; and blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking – associated with dystonia).
