Baby Botox, busted

Another day, another questionable TikTok trend

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IN a nutshell Hello, friends! I hope everyone's having a lovely day. I'm personally riding high after an eye-opening chat with Healthline's Medical Director, Jenny Yu, MD, about TikTok's latest beauty trend: baby Botox. The term "baby Botox" refers to getting microdoses of Botox injections. As is common on TikTok, the collective understanding seems to be that the trend — which has views in the billions — is totally safe and consequence-free. Yu gives us the scoop on why that isn't true and what to know before going under the needle in your 20s. Keep reading to find out. Other stories we're covering today include: • how to firm up the skin around your eyes without Botox • the health benefits of urban trees (and why you should care) • Taylor Swift's latest music video • more health stories you need Stay sharp, Ginger Wojcik Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Ginger Wojcik November 2, 2022 • 7 min read

what's got us buzzing Baby Botox: Harmless beauty trend or more TikTok misinformation? How does the internet feel about baby Botox? The title of this video should give you a sense: UMMMM I'M OBSESSED. No, baby Botox isn't Botox for babies. It's a nonmedical term that refers to getting microdoses of Botox injections to prevent future wrinkles. The term is big on TikTok right now. Like 4.3 billion views big. But is it safe? We spoke with Healthline's Medical Director, Jenny Yu, MD, to talk it through. "For me, there's a lot of issues with this," says Yu, who used to work as an oculoplastic surgeon. "For the most part, it's safe. Botox has been around for a long time. But it does have consequences." One of Yu's concerns is that starting Botox in your 20s — as many of these TikTokers are — may set you up for a domino effect of complications down the road that could ultimately speed up skin aging, rather than slow it down. "If you start early, by the time you're in your 40s and 50s you may not see any benefits from Botox because you've built up a tolerance," she says. Your body's natural reaction to a foreign material like Botox is to neutralize it, she explains. So over time, those age-defying effects may lessen, and you may need to up the dosage to stay fresh-faced. This leads us to Yu's second point of concern: muscle loss. "If you increase your frequency of use and dosings, it can cause the muscles to atrophy," she says. "That can totally change the appearance and shape of your face." Indeed, muscle atrophying — when your muscles get smaller and weaker — is actually a natural sign of aging, which is exactly what Botox promises to evade. So in summary, baby Botox is technically safe. But starting in your 20s increases your odds of having to deal with unwanted consequences later in life. If you're bothered by the appearance of new fine lines, Yu suggests starting with a good skin care regimen before dipping into injectables. You can also take our 7-day challenge all about building a skin care routine to manage signs of aging by clicking here. tl;dr – Baby Botox is trending, but it may not be as safe as people on TikTok say it is, according to Healthline's Medical Director, Jenny Yu, MD. The practice, which involves injecting microdoses of Botox to fend off future wrinkles, may increase your risk of muscle atrophying down the road.

great finds Products we love       Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick If you're not eager to jump on the baby Botox train but you want to take care of the skin under and around your eyes, consider Senior Newsletter Editor Ashley Sepanski's fave new skin care product: the Peace Out Retinol Eye Stick. "I use it before bed right before I've applied my final moisturizer. While it can't erase deep set lines, I noticed a difference right away (plus I've benefited from retinol's acne-fighting benefits). The addition of astaxanthin, an ingredient found to be 6,000 times more powerful than vitamin C, also gave my skin a dewy radiance that feels like an Instagram filter." We also appreciate that this product doesn't break the bank, unlike some other retinol products. Hot tip: Check out our article on how to use retinol safely. Shop now

say what   Look who's talking "Whoever wins will inherit control over more than half of the Amazon rainforest and, by extension, will determine the conditions for future life on Earth." – Agnes Walton and Alessandra Orofino, in a recent New York Times Op-Ed     Research suggests that the Amazon rainforest is on the verge of drying out, which could speed up climate change. On Sunday, Brazilians chose Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to be their next president. The leftist leader, better known as Lula, served as the president of Brazil from 2003 to 2011. During Lula's previous terms, deforestation of the Amazon dramatically decreased, a track record experts are hopeful will continue in his upcoming presidency.

Wednesday Kick Start Big trees benefit city neighborhoods, but only some people have access to them If you've ever looked out your window and marveled at all the lush, regal trees serenely swaying in the wind, you probably don't live in an area that was redlined, according to a new study. It found that redlined neighborhoods in Baltimore were nine times less likely to have large old trees, as well as diverse species of trees, than other neighborhoods in the city. Need a refresher on redlining and why this matters? We got you. In the 1930s, insurance companies drew up city maps to show which neighborhoods were safe to invest in and which weren't. The areas outlined in red were deemed high risk, which meant good luck getting an insurance company to issue you a mortgage there. Uncoincidentally, the red neighborhoods were predominantly populated by Black people. The lack of investment caused by redlining shaped the future of these neighborhoods, and it still affects the health of people living there. The all-concrete-everything environment that's so common in urban areas may lead to a variety of health issues. For one, having more trees in urban spaces can remove pollution from the air and cool the air, which will become more and more important as temperatures rise. It's also well documented that being close to nature and green spaces improves mental health. In fact, it can help you bounce back from stress and mental fatigue. While the effects of redlining have lasted far too long, the study out of Baltimore ended on a positive note: There are many efforts underway in redlined areas to plant trees and invest in neighborhood development. Want to see more investment made in under-resourced areas? Vote for candidates who make this a priority in the upcoming primaries next Tuesday.

health stories you need What we're reading next Is your anger a sign for concern? This quiz can help you know. Everyone gets angry from time to time, but how do you know when it's an issue worth addressing? Psych Central's quiz can help you find out. Faking a smile can help your mood, but it won't fix everything. New research shows that putting on a happy face can help you feel better, but it won't erase anger or anxiety. A TikTok trend may be causing a shortage of a diabetes drug. The drug Ozempic recently went viral on TikTok as an off-label weight loss aid. Learn how this affects people with diabetes and why experts warn against the trend.

you're up No doubt you've seen all the ominous headlines about the return of cold and flu season, not to mention COVID-19 rearing its ugly head again. As these stories percolate, so too do the theories for how to protect yourself against winter viruses, including taking daily zinc supplements, drinking celery juice, and doing cold water plunges. Despite the theories, experts are adamant that there's no magic potion when it comes to the immune system. Vaccines are the only clinically proven way to stimulate an immune response. That being said, there are some health choices you can make that likely help your immune system, like getting sleep, exercising regularly, eating whole foods, and cutting down on stress. We're also curious to hear from you all on the subject. Do you have any trusty ways of staying on top of your health through flu season? Tell us: What's your secret for staying healthy during the winter? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com.

Thanks for reading! By the time you read this, my pup will be done with her cone sentence, and the full effect of her joy will be restored to my apartment. See you again on Friday!

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