More and more people around the world are turning to Botox injections to help improve the appearance of their skin and achieve a healthier, youthful look. In fact, Botox is far and away the most popular cosmetic procedure and accounts for nearly half of all minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States each year. However, Botox actually provides many additional benefits that go far beyond simple cosmetic improvements, and here are six of the most surprising.

Smooth Wrinkles and Reduce the Signs of Aging

These cosmetic benefits Botox provides might not be all that surprising. After all, these benefits are the primary reason that nearly 7 million Americans undergo Botox injections each year. Nonetheless, you might be surprised to know that this type of Botox injection is not the sole territory of cosmetic surgeons.

Many dentists around the country have also started offering cosmetic Botox injections with outstanding results. A dentist’s in-depth knowledge of your facial muscles and tissues, combined with their skill and experience in delivering painless injections, makes them an excellent choice for anyone considering Botox. For this reason, if you’re looking for Botox in Muskogee, OK or anywhere else, it’s definitely worth a look to see if any dentists in your area offer the procedure.

Treatment of Eye Disorders

Even if Botox is best-known for its cosmetic uses, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved it to treat a variety of other medical conditions. This includes several different eye disorders, such as crossed eyes, eyelid spasms, and blurred vision.

Scientists have long known that botulinum toxin could help to relax or paralyze muscles, and this is precisely how it helps with wrinkles. However, this same muscle-paralysis benefit can also be used to help relax the eye muscles to eliminate the condition known as strabismus or crossed eyes. Similarly, Botox injections can reduce or eliminate excessive eyelid spasms in the same way.

Provide Relief for Frequent Migraine Sufferers

For people who suffer from severe headaches almost daily and frequently get migraines, Botox injections may also be able to help provide some relief. The FDA approved Botox injections as a migraine treatment back in 2010, but the discovery of this benefit was actually by accident.

After receiving cosmetic Botox injections, many patients reported that their headaches went away, and this led to doctors further researching it as a potential headache treatment. Although the exact mechanism isn’t fully known, most research suggests that Botox works by blocking neurotransmitters to prevent pain signals from reaching your brain and thus stopping you from feeling the effects of the headache.

Lessen Problems with Excessive Sweating or Salivation

Another potential treatment offered by Botox injections is available for those who suffer from excessive sweating. Specifically, Botox offers hope for those with axillary hyperhidrosis, also known as excessive underarm sweating. The Botox is injected into and around the armpit area, where it works to keep you from sweating by blocking the release of the chemical that activates your sweat glands. Similarly, Botox is also used to treat problems with excessive salivation or drooling in patients with certain neurological impairments.

Aid People with Overactive Bladders

Botox can also provide great relief for patients suffering from overactive bladders or those who often wet themselves. The toxin works by relaxing the muscles around the bladder, which can help to prevent urine leaks, and lessen the need for frequent trips to the bathroom. In general, there are usually other, better treatment options available. However, Botox injections are an excellent choice for those who either don’t respond to or experience severe side effects from the other medications.

Eliminate Muscle Stiffness, Pains and Spasms

Just as Botox eliminates wrinkles by relaxing the muscles, Botox injections can also be used to treat various muscle problems in the same way. By injecting the toxin into the muscle tissue, doctors can help provide relief for patients suffering from extreme muscle stiffness or pain. These problems are often caused because the muscle is too tight or can’t fully relax, both of which are eliminated due to the effects of the botulinum toxin. In the same way, Botox injections can also provide great relief for anyone who frequently suffers from debilitating muscle spasms.

As you can see, Botox provides a broad range of medical benefits. This might be quite surprising considering the fact that a single gram of botulinum toxin could kill over one million people, making it one of the deadliest substances known to man. Despite its extreme lethality, Botox has proved to be a huge benefit to the medical community. Moreover, the various effects of botulinum toxin are still being studied, which means it wouldn’t be all that surprising if doctors discovered even more medical uses for this incredibly deadly and incredibly useful toxin.