Botox injections given to young people may limit their emotional development, warn experts in the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing.
Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin – also known as botulinum toxin, which is produced by Bacillus botulinus bacteria. Sausage venom can be formed in spoiled cold cuts and canned food. Although the ingested botulinum toxin is a very strong poison, when injected in small amounts into the muscles, it only locally paralyzes them.
This paralyzing effect was originally used in neuroscience and ophthalmology – for example, to reduce excessive muscle tension in children with cerebral palsy and stroke survivors. Smoothing out wrinkles is a side effect that has been observed when treating strabismus. Thanks to botox, the features become milder and the face looks a few years younger. Botox treatments began in the late 80s.
Currently, botox is injected earlier and earlier in people under 25 as an anti-wrinkle prophylaxis. However, according to the author of the study, Helen Collier, a “frozen” face can make it difficult for young people to learn to express their emotions fully.
A culture based on television shows and celebrities may lead young people to idealize a non-revealing face, but established psychological theories suggest that adolescents learn proper relationships with people by imitating their facial expressions. A paralyzed face does not convey emotions, but also weakens the perception of them – not only do we smile because we are happy, but we also feel happy when we smile.
Rajiv Grover, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, told the BBC that injecting botox into teenagers for cosmetic reasons is morally reprehensible and should not be performed by any ethical physician. (PAP)