Botox is ridiculously popular to get rid of wrinkles. And then we keep finding out it does all sorts of other cool things.
Did you know…
- It helps with depression? Yup. Double blinded study shows it. STUDY
- It can help with keloid scars? Again, crazy but true. Study shows that too. STUDY
- And now Psoriasis?!
This was a study published in September 2020. In my avid quest to always be learning, I stumble upon all sorts of things. This is out of Venezuela, and it is a small study.
Premise:
They state studies show that neurotransmitters (nerves) help lead to a bunch of skin conditions, including psoriasis. They also discuss how after people have a nervous system injury peripherally (ie peripheral nerve injury, not a brain injury), there are reports psoriasis got better. Additionally, they state Botox has been reported to help several skin diseases including psoriasis.
Study:
- 8 patients with stable and recalcitrant psoriasis plaques of psoriasis vulgaris
- The lesions were 5cmx5cm at the maximum
- They used Dysport, 5 units per square cm in one subcutaneous application
- They were evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment
Finding?
“Substantial improvement in all patients 4 weeks after treatment” with no significant side effects. They postulate the Botox interferes with the immune pathogenesis of psoriasis.
My thoughts?
Botox is the gift that keeps giving. It doesn’t surprise me that inflammation or irritability of the nerves leads to skin issues. There are all sorts of treatments aimed at getting the nervous system to calm down. There are people who do cryotherapy (where they get super cold for a few minutes in a chamber, or ice bath, or just live in Sweden in winter), eat anti-inflammatory diets, and use supplements to try to decrease inflammation. People report all sorts of benefits when doing this, but skin issues like eczema are top of list for what they see improves.
Of course this is a small study. I have no idea of how often you’d need to redo the Botox (is it one treatment? or you have to do every couple months?). Does the amount change? What is the cost? Would insurance pay? But super interesting.
Original article published in Dermatocologic Therapy, September 2020, “Breaking paradigms in the treatment of psoriasis: Use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.”