Can Botox Alleviate Shingles Discomfort?

Although it is the #1 nonsurgical cosmetic service, Botox has proven itself trustworthy with a number of medical treatments. From relieving migraines, bladder control, cervical dystonia, and hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating), it’s no surprise that Botox has been a success for over a decade. But new research shows Botox is reliable at easing shingle discomfort.

Shingles is a viral infection that typically lies dormant within your body if you’ve ever suffered from the chickenpox virus. This virus can become active and produce a painful rash on the skin. In more severe cases it can lead to postherpetic neuralgia, which causes extreme pain to nerve fibers.

Botox is both a protein and neurotoxin, working by blocking nerve signals that are transmitted to the muscles. As a cosmetic treatment, this is what causes the relaxation of the muscles in the face that soften skin for a more youthful appearance. As a postherpetic neuralgia treatment, Botox is considered to help prevent the chemical release that plays a role in the transmission of severe nerve pain.

This is according to the study at the Guangdong Medical School in China, where Botox was proven to decrease discomfort more than lidocaine treatments.   

“There seems to be a new use for Botox being discovered all the time,” says Ashlee Penix, Client Services Manager at NLI Med Spa, a medical spa with locations in Scottsdale and Dallas. “We use it specifically for cosmetic purposes at NLI, but the new medical uses bode well for the future of this product.” 

NLI Med Spa is one of the largest medical spas in the nation, seeing over 3,000 clients each month. As a leader in the industry, they provide a number of in-demand noninvasive cosmetic treatments, including Botox. Services are performed by leading experts and medical professionals in the industry.

If you’d like to learn more about Botox or other services at NLI Med Spa, simply fill out the form on your right or call 480-290-7333.