Melissa Day explains why Gen Z’s are in fact ageing faster

With the endorsement of Botox by heavyweight influencers, prospects for the next generation seem bleak. Melissa Day explains why Gen Z’s are in fact ageing faster.

Melissa Day, a cosmetic acupuncturist, laments we are currently experiencing a pandemic of self-loathing rather than self-love. Day raises an important question regarding the impact of heavyweight influencers who share their preference for Botox on Instagram, with their young female followers. Day says “It is disheartening to witness figures of such stature and influence promoting such a practice. Consider this: how would you feel if you saw someone preparing to inject Botox into a baby’s face? The mere thought is horrifying, not only because it involves a baby but also because we instinctively recognise the harm that is about to be inflicted. Why then are we so willing to subject ourselves to this?”. Day explains that the Gen Z population has increasingly embraced “tweakments” like Botox and fillers but paradoxically, they are actually experiencing accelerated ageing.

1) Did you know that the secondary ingredient in Botox is human albumin – a protein from human blood?

2) Are you aware that using Botox as a preventative means to ageing, prior to visible wrinkles, is not FDA approved?

3) Did you know that Botox injected over a long period of time, for fine lines and wrinkles, has been shown to cause facial muscle loss?

4) Did you know that to evaluate the Lethal Dose of each batch, Botox is tested on animals?

In the UK, there is a high increase in under 30’s getting Botox. It is said that one million pounds is spent per year on corrective surgery as a result of these injections.

Day has observed a rise in clients who have experienced negative consequences from Botox and are now seeking a more natural alternative. A specific example is a client in her late 20’s who expressed concern about the complete loss of movement around one eye after receiving Botox injections, with no improvement over time. Another client experienced an allergic reaction to Botox, resulting in temporary difficulties with speech and swallowing for several weeks following the treatment.

In April 2002, the FDA approved Botulinum Toxin-A injections (Botox), to be used for cosmetic use for “existing wrinkles” on three facial areas: frown lines between the eyes, forehead and crow’s feet. Therefore, it is unable to address concerns such as sagging skin, muscle tone and facial contour. Once injected, it paralyses facial muscles and abates into the system and will need to be carried out approximately every 3 to 4 months. The neurotoxin Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the Clostridium bacterium; the same toxin that causes a life-threatening food poisoning called botulism. Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the facial muscles so that they can no longer contract, causing wrinkles to temporarily relax and soften.

In today’s society, people are increasingly mindful of the products they use and consume. With the growing vegan movement, it is important to note that Botox is not compatible with a vegan lifestyle. This is due to the presence of human albumin, a protein derived from human blood, which is the secondary ingredient in Botox along with sodium chloride. To evaluate the Lethal Dose of each batch, Botox is tested on animals.

Botox cannot be administered during pregnancy or breastfeeding. In animal tests, Botox caused rodents to have babies with a low birth weight, born early, not developed properly or even survive. The same “may not” happen in human babies, however, the lack of evidence is enough for doctors to advise against using Botox during these periods. (Like many medicines, Botox may pass into breast milk reaching the baby). With Botox having the potential to travel from the injection site to distant parts of the body, we are really only on the cusp of discovering what the long-term implications of the drug may be.

Using Botox as a preventative means to ageing, prior to visible wrinkles, is not FDA approved. It is well documented, that Botox used as a preventative means to ageing, can cause premature ageing, by causing facial muscles and the skin overlying these muscles, to become thin. Additionally to this, Botox injected over a long period of time for fine lines and wrinkles, has been shown to cause facial muscle loss. The result is that wrinkles may become worse. This is caused by nearby muscles, contracting around the site where the Botox has been injected, that try to compensate for the muscle loss and this causes more fine lines and wrinkles to appear. The skin can become thin too. This can cause visibly protruding veins.

Some of the risks of Botox are:

♦ Loss of bladder control ♦ Upset stomach ♦ Trouble breathing ♦ Difficulty speaking or swallowing ♦ Drooling ♦ Vision problems ♦ Flu-like symptoms ♦ Droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows ♦ Crooked smile ♦ Eye dryness or excessive tearing ♦ Muscle weakness all over the body ♦ Hands suffer a loss of cortical brain activity ♦ Inflammatory response in the immune system

Here are some natural alternatives which Day argues can be more effective than Botox:

One of the most sought-after natural alternatives to Botox is cosmetic acupuncture, which has been around for centuries. This technique involves inserting tiny needles into the face to stimulate collagen production and improve the skin’s texture and muscle tone. Many people find cosmetic acupuncture to be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience that leaves their skin looking and feeling more youthful.

Another popular option is Gua Sha, an ancient Chinese ritual that involves using a flat, smooth tool to massage the face and neck. This technique helps to increase circulation, reduce inflammation and improve lymphatic drainage, resulting in firmer, more toned skin.

Of course, there are also plenty of active skincare ingredients that can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Ingredients like retinol, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are all known for their anti-ageing properties and can be found in a variety of skincare products.

Whether you’re looking to try cosmetic acupuncture, Gua Sha, or simply incorporate more natural skincare ingredients into your routine, there are plenty of options available. By choosing natural alternatives to Botox, you can achieve a more youthful appearance while also caring for both your skin, health and the environment.