If you are intent on reducing lines associated with aging, the chances are you will use botox; there are many myths about what it is and before a person starts a course, it is worth finding out more information. To understand exactly what it is and does, we first have to look at just how this amazing miracle of modern science came to be. It may be famous now for its use in cosmetic surgery but it wasn’t always that way when it was first being studied by scientists half a century ago; It used originally for disorders of the brain.

A few decades later after much research, the FDA granted permission for it to be used medically and the first patients to make use of the drug were those with eye conditions; patients suffering with uncontrollable blinking and crossed eyes were given this and sometimes those who suffered with wrinkles as well. In the year 2000 it was approved to treat cervical dystonia; this eases the pain from serious contractions in the shoulders and neck, but it was also given the ok to be used on another more unusual eye condition. Scientists found that if the botox drug was injected into the lines between the eyebrows it would gradually soften them and make them disappear; after further tests in 2002 the FDA allowed it to be used for the first cosmetic enhancement and the drug finally had a new field of use.

Botox has a paralyzing affect when it is injected into areas of the forehead which control the muscles that cause frowning; given sufficient treatments, frown lines that the person has lived with for many years will gradually fade. With continued use, the frown lines in most instances will completely vanish but the same effect can be found in lines at the sides of the eyes, mouth and other forehead lines. The injections are a purified and watered down version of the sometimes fatal Botulinum poison; these treatments are only a fraction of the true strength which, in other forms, could make us seriously unwell.

Of course we all like to laugh and obviously use our faces for other gestures but the muscles controlling this are the cause of the line we see and obviously, these injections can stop this. The wonderful thing too many people is the treatment can help reduce and often eliminate the signs of aging that have taken years to appear; many cosmetic manufacturers have tried to create creams to eliminate the creases but this is the only treatment to date that can actually rid them from us. These botox injections are used directly into the muscles that control facial expressions and paralyzing them for a short period, effectively making it almost impossible for a person to smile; that’s why people who have had these treatments can look like mannequins.

Whilst the face can still provide expressions, they are seriously reduced but this give the effect of someone looking much younger than they really are. Injections of this very popular cosmetic treatment are still costly; with injections in the low to very high hundreds of dollars each, it looks to remain expensive for some time to come. There is always some concern about new treatments and botox is no exception with many people worried about the long term effects of injections, but even so this has not stopped its popularity.

Cellulite has become one of the most hated female conditions in recent years especially amongst those who are generally slim; whilst some areas are more susceptible than others, most sufferers find they are affected in areas below the waist. Do not be fooled into thinking that this is a condition purely confined to women who are overweight because most carry additional fat anyway; the lumpy substance that looks more like cottage cheese beneath the skin can affect slim, even sporting women as well.

Fat beneath the surface of the skin pushes against connective tissue causing it to give that dimpled look commonly known as cellulite. The real cause of is unknown so is the reasons why some women are more prone to suffering with it than others but scientists believe that it could be due to the way the cells are structured beneath the skin of each individual.

One thing is certain though and that is as a persons age increases, the amount of this fatty tissue increases in the same way that wrinkles also form which is probably due to the reduction of the two components that keep the skin looking young; collagen and elastin. Whilst many would disagree, this condition is often referred to a hormone imbalance problem as men almost never have this happen to them.

The presence of cellulite is not always prominent, unless one tries to pinch the upper skin of one’s thigh; should it feel lumpy then you most certainly have it but a woman should not feel bad about having it, since most have this condition to a certain degree. Many factors can influence the buildup; ranging from the sex of the person to their age, genetic make-up, skin type and skin thickness, all have a part to play in its formation.

As medical science cannot prove conclusively what causes the problem, it makes it difficult creating a cure even though a number have been tried including special burning creams. One method that hides the cellulite quite well by puffing the skin is deep massage and an increasing number of clinics are now offering this therapy.

Another technique used to remove the fat cells, but not that successfully, is liposuction which is used to remove excess fat in the body but a method called mesotherapy which injects chemicals into the fat cells is still too expensive for most people who desire it. Only temporary relief can be gained from both these procedures and liposuction despite its success at removing deep fat from large areas of the body, is not designed for the fats close to the surface as in the case of cellulite.

Whilst the creams that claim to burn the fat deposits away may not be very successful, the latest generation is designed to hide the condition although once again this is a short term answer. The most successful regimes so far are to adopt regular exercise, a good nutritious low-fat diet plan and reduce extra weight where possible.

Water too is useful as it has the effect of flushing out toxins that accumulate and are thought to be partly responsible for the cellulite; in addition to this smokers are urged to quit or reduce their smoking which is an effective way for toxins to enter the body.