When Can I Wash my Face After Botox?
What Exactly is Botox?
Botox is a neurotoxin or more precisely, it prevents nerve impulses from reaching the muscles so they won’t contract and prevent wrinkles. It is made from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The botulinum toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that causes muscle contractions.
The safety and effectiveness of Botox treatment has been demonstrated in clinical studies for various areas such as glabellar lines (frown lines between eyes) and cervical dystonia. It has also been found to be safe and effective for the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), chronic migraine, strabismus (squint) and spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
It is important to know that Botox treatment does not provide a permanent solution and requires top up injections every 3-4 months depending on the individual and the area.
The procedure of Botox treatment is simple, with anesthetic cream to help numb the area and a fine needle to inject it where you want it to go. Afterward some redness or bruising may be present but these should fade within a few hours. It usually takes about 3-7 days before you see full effect.
What to Expect After a Botox Treatment
Your face may feel a bit numb or have some redness in the area treated, but this should fade quickly. You may have swelling and bruising especially if multiple areas were injected so it is good to plan your week accordingly. It is not recommended to plan any big events or to go to the beach for two weeks after your Botox treatment, so you can allow yourself some down time. You should also not plan to take any flights or go on any long road trips for at least 4 days after your treatment.
Few hours after the injection you may start seeing some results – your face might look smoother, softer and younger. However, these effects do not show immediately; it will take 2-5 days for Botox to take full effect.
After Botox, you should not rub or massage the treated area for 24 hours to avoid improving the wrinkles. You also should not apply any moisturizers or other topical products to your skin in the affected area for 24 hours as well. Using sunscreen is always important, so it is recommended to start doing this one day after Botox treatment.
After the procedure you should plan to take it easy. No heavy exercises, no drinking alcohol and no sunbathing or tanning beds for at least one week after Botox treatment. You can use cold compresses on your face periodically if any discomfort occurs. It is good to avoid using hot towels since they may increase redness and swelling. If you smoke, please stop smoking at least two weeks before and after the procedure as this will dramatically improve your results and speed up recovery.
Avoid any activities that might result in direct pressure to the treated area of skin for 24 hours or so. You should also avoid placing anything hot or cold on your skin for about 48 hours, such as hot water bottles and ice packs.
Changes in Skin After Botox Treatment
Once the area has healed, it is good to be aware of what types of reactions might occur. Some patients may experience flu-like symptoms such as chills, headache, and nausea which should go away after a few hours. If this is your first time getting Botox then it may be normal to experience some pain or tightness in the muscle that was treated. Your skin should look better after around two weeks due to the fact that the skin naturally replaces itself every 28 days and as you replenish your collagen.
How to Wash Botox-Treated Skin?
Once the Botox has worn off, it is safe to wash your face similar to before you had Botox. However, after having it injected in multiple areas, you should only wash the area that was treated so as not to spread the product elsewhere.
If you were injected around or on your eyes, do not put any water directly in them. Use a washcloth to gently remove dirt and oils from your skin without rubbing too hard or scrubbing. If you are still experiencing some redness or dry patches then consider using an all-natural moisturizer to help heal the area.
Washing your face after Botox too soon can cause serious irritation, redness and swelling. Allow the area to heal first before putting any water on it.
What About Taking a Shower and Washing my Hair?
It is recommended that you wait about 24 hours after treatment to take a shower or bath, but this will depend on where you were injected. If you were not injected around your eyes then you can wash them gently the next day. If you were, then avoid water to keep from spreading Botox and wait two days before washing your face. Following this routine will help provide optimal results and reduce any risk of side effects such as droopy eyelids, brows or an uneven smile.
Once the procedure is done it is usually recommended by doctors to wait 14 days before washing or putting any type of soap on your face, especially around the eyes. This will allow the product time to settle in your skin and not spread anywhere else accidentally. If you are concerned about bacteria or other potential irritants, then use a warm wet washcloth to gently remove dirt and oils from your skin. It might take a little longer than normal for you to wash your face so be patient and allow enough time to pass in order to not spread the Botox elsewhere.
Conclusion
It is perfectly safe to wash your face after having Botox injected. However, you should not put any type of soap or water around the eyes until after the 14 day period. If your skin is still red and dry at this time then consider using an all-natural moisturizer to help heal the area faster.
Also if you were injected in multiple areas then only wash the area treated so as not to spread the product elsewhere. Your skin will look better after two weeks because your body naturally replenished collagen but it is recommended to wait 14 days before cleaning or putting any type of soap on your face around or near the eyes.