DOES BOTOX THIN THE SKIN?

If you're one of my clients, you're aware that I'll likely have tape, a face mask, or some type of skin treatment on when you arrive. I understand that not everyone can go to work or go about their daily activities looking like this. However, you can adopt skincare routines to do while hanging at home or while you sleep, which can transform how your skin functions and looks - not just temporarily, but for the long game!

For the last couple of years I have been researching at home routines that naturally retrain muscles, increase blood flow and oxygen delivery to the skin cells, strengthen the skin's barrier, and give the skin a true glow up. These are skincare routines that can be done on your own time, with very little expense. I recently added a new treatment into my home care that has changed my back and forth in my head about getting Botox. Truly no need or desire anymore. I always had a little voice saying, "Maybe just do a little hit to relax my powerful 11's muscle." Adding this routine with my other ones has completely relaxed the facial muscles that create my 11's ... more on this to come.

So, why do I not want to get Botox? There is one camp that does not want to inject toxins and risk side effects. However even if you are not part of that group, there are other things to consider. I understand wanting a quick fix. Trust me, that is why sometimes I have gone back and forth in my head after doing my multiple daily skincare practices - one little shot sure takes less time! However, I simply do not like what it does to the skin long term. Botulinum toxin itself does not thin out the skin, but with repeated use over time it can make the skin appear thinner due to a lack of muscle activity and circulation.

Botox temporarily blocks nerve signals to the muscle being treated, which temporarily paralyzes the muscle and smooths out expression lines. It lasts about 3-4 months, and then gradually wears off. It treats only the lines that are formed from movement, but does not treat the loss of elasticity or collagen (aging, sun damage, etc). Overtime the muscle being treated begins to shrink due to inactivity. With less movement there is less circulation and oxygen flow to the tissue. Skin begins to appear thinner and crepier, creating a sort of papery texture. It may also cause a slight hollowing or flattening of the contour in the facial muscle area being treated.

Example of flattening/hollowing in area where Botox has been injected multiple times.

Recently I have heard young people in their 20's discussing getting "Preventative Botox." Remember that Botox only lasts about 3-4 months. Let's say you are treating your face every 4 months, 3x year. If you start at 20 years old and treat until you are 50 years old, that is 90 injections, at least $36,000, and 30 years of impeding muscle movement, blood flow, and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells!

So, for people of all ages, whether you are wanting preventative treatments or to treat existing wrinkles, my recommendation is to do routines that relax and retrain how your muscles move. Routines that increase blood flow rather than decrease it. Routines that help deliver nutrients and oxygen to your skin cells to boost your natural collagen production and strengthen your elasticity. Routines that increase circulation to give your skin a lit from within glow.

The aim of achieving healthy, smooth skin is about having muscle movement that, when at rest, leaves the skin smooth and free of creases or wrinkles. It's about insuring the delivery of rich, oxygenated blood to the skin tissue. It's about encouraging healthy lymphatic movement to eliminate excess fluid and waste. It is about creating plump, bouncy skin all over the face, rather than eliminating movement in a specific area.

Want to learn more? Grab a group of friends interested in learning practical skincare routines you can do at home for your best skin ever! Whether it's a group of teenagers, college students, or adults, you will learn tricks and techniques to create a life long journey into healthy skin. Healthy skin loving refreshments, hands-on training on how to do the most effective at-home skin routines, discounts on tool purchases, and more!

For further details about the hands-on classes, please email me at: tracy@tracybethelskincare.com