Stress can reduce the effects of Botox, often causing results to wear off sooner than expected. This blog explains why and what you can do about it.
Stress and Cortisol
Cortisol is a naturally occurring hormone that plays a vital role in regulating many body functions, including our metabolism and the function of our immune system. It’s also involved in the body’s response to stress, helping regulate blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and ‘fight or flight’ instincts.
The body releases more cortisol in response to stress; one of its effects is to boost the breakdown and absorption of proteins in the skin and muscles. But elevated levels of cortisol also accelerate the absorption of Botox in the body, limiting its effectiveness in limiting the muscle movements linked to dynamic lines and wrinkles. The result is that the benefits of Botox treatment fade faster than normal; it’s not unusual to see the results of Botox treatments starting to reduce as soon as two months after treatment, instead of the expected three or four months.
Stress and Muscle Relaxation
Stress has negative effects that go beyond interfering with the ability of Botox to inhibit muscle movements. It can increase muscular activity, leading to the formation of lines and wrinkles. Repeatedly frowning or clenching the jaw, for example, can accelerate the development of the same movement-related facial furrows that are treated using Botox. If stress is applied over the long term, it will surely lead to suboptimal results.
Jaw Tension and Bruxism
Stress can result in negative effects that are not purely cosmetic. For example, in some individuals, elevated stress levels manifest as jaw-related pain, caused by nocturnal teeth-grinding or prolonged jaw clenching. TMJ disorders can result in jaw-related pain, discomfort, and even dysfunction. Furthermore, jaw pain can affect adjacent areas, and interfere with the ability of Botox to limit muscle movements in other locations.
Stress and Collagen Loss, and Skin Resilience
Stress-induced cortisol also negatively affects the body’s collagen production, which directly influences skin elasticity, overall tone, and vitality. It can also have subtle effects on overall skin resilience to developing lines and wrinkles, as reduced levels of collagen make the skin more easily damaged and slower to recover. It can also act to make existing lines and wrinkles more visible.
Ways to Reduce Stress Levels
If you’re susceptible to stress, you should consider ways to limit your exposure. Breathing exercises can be effective, as can low-intensity yoga. Finding ways to reduce stress and prevent the buildup of tension will extend the duration of the benefits you see from your Botox treatments, as well as improve your overall sense of well-being. It will also act to limit the future development of facial wrinkles and the need for further treatment.
Eating a healthy diet can also help you manage your stress levels. Avoiding excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol will also create a better environment for Botox to do its work. Massage can also play a big role in assisting relaxation.
Long-Term Effects of Chronic Stress
Stress has a far bigger negative effect when it’s present over the long-term, as the effects of chronic stress tend to be cumulative. Repeated exposure to elevated levels of cortisol can start to alter the composition of muscle fibers, which can sometimes make them resistant to future applications of Botox.
Contact Your Laser Skin Care for Expert Botox Treatment
Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified, with extensive experience performing Botox procedures. We tailor all treatments according to each patient’s needs, and prioritize minimalistic application and natural-looking results. We invite you to contact us for more information on this or any of the other non-invasive cosmetic procedures we offer. We can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.
