We have all heard of Botox injections for minimizing the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. Of course, all of us who have experienced a bit of life, want to look younger. Botox is a great answer for many people, but it is not for everybody.

Botos is actually the botulinum neurotoxin. It must be injected by a medical provider. It is approved by the FDA to treat people between 18 and 65. Results show up in a couple of days, and they can last for up to 4 months. The cost is pretty high for cosmetic work with estimates ranging from $300 to $1200. The price depends upon the areas of the face that need treatment, how much treatment they need, and who administers the treatment. In some cases, a nurse may do the injections, and this costs less. On the other hand, physician administered injections will tend to cost more.

Many people have no problems, but other experience some alarming side effects. Those these are rare, serious heart problems and allergic responses have been reported. Less serious, but certainly problem results range from headaches to sagging eyelids. I would certainly hate to pay $1200 for sagging eyelids!

Beyond that, people do report that the injections are painful, and that their is a risk of some temproary brusing at the injection site.

So anyway, you can see that Botox is an FDA approved medication, but it is very expensive, and it can cause some serious to annoying side effects.

Peptides vs Botox

Aging and environmental factors cause our skin to produce less collagen. One naturally occurring peptide, Basically, a peptide is a combination of aminio acids, and is also described as a fragment of a protein.

Arigeline, a peptide, is non-toxic and no side effects have been reported. It actually causes facial muscles to relax, and thus reduces the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. It can be applied topically and is absorbed by the skin. It wil probably take a bit longer for Arigeline to work....say 2 - 4 weeks, and the results may not be as dramatic as a quick injection of neurotoxin....but it looks like something I would want to try. It is also cheaper, with products available at a very moderate monthly price.

Vitamin A vs. Botox

Vitamin A is also applied topically, and not by injections. A Retin-A prescription must be gotten from a doctor, but Retinol can be purchased without a prescription. Medical studies have reported that vitamin A will help the skin retain moisture and stimulates increase production of collagen.

In addition, skin treated with retinol has been demonstrated to withstand injury better than non-treated skin, and to resist the formation of ulcers (sores).

The Verdict?

A Botox injection will producer quicker and more dramatic results. But if you are concerned about the cost, and about having neurotoxins injected into your face, consider some of the face creams on the market!

Homemade Facial Cream?

Well, I have read that honey and yogurt make a great natural skin cream. Yummy and sticky, I guess, but hey.... we have to suffer for beauty, right?