Is my activated charcoal face cream causing my botox injections to wear off quicker?

Question

I have been using a face scrub and cream that has activated charcoal in it. I love it and It works really good to keep my skin from breaking out. However, I just started getting botox injections in my forehead. It seems to smooth out my lines and give me great results, but every time I get another injection it is wearing off after two months. Could the activated charcoal extract the botox at a faster rate? Or what could be causing it to fade so quickly?

Mitchel Goldman, MD · Answer

Botox is injected into the muscle and so will not be affected by any kind of face cream. If it is wearing off after just 2 months, you may be one of those people who metabolize it quickly. Or, perhaps, you did not receive a high enough dose or proper placement of the Botox. Please consult the board-certified dermatologist who administered your Botox to get some insights into why this is happening. You also may need to find a more expert injector.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

No. I do not believe your charcoal cream is causing you Botox to wear off faster than normal. I believe you need to get a little more Botox when the movement re-starts. You can also talk to your injector about increasing the number of units used by 10% and see if this works for a longer lasting result. Best wishes, Dr. ALDO

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

No, it is unlikely this is causing your Botox results to resolve faster. Keep in mind, Botox results gradually resolve over 3-4 months. Additional Botox may be needed to get your desired results. Fillers, lasers and microneedling/prp can be used for deeper wrinkles. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Botox is injected fairly deep into the muscle that is being treated, so I do not think that a topical cream of charcoal or anything else would penetrate deep enough to have an effect on a Botox treatment.  Factors that could influence the longevity of Botox results would include the dosage used and the injection technique.  It is possible a higher dose could lead to longer results.

Kory Kitagawa, MD · Answer

An activated charcoal face mask will not absorb into the muscles, which is where Botox is injected. If your Botox is wearing off, you need to explore other possibilities, such as poor technique on the part of the injector or too low of a dose to control your muscles. Please be sure to see a board-certified dermatologist for your next set of Botox injections.

Sean Doherty, MD, FACS · Answer

No. Your charcoal mask is applied topically and will not affect your Botox injections. However, since you are finding that the results aren't lasting as long, make an appointment with your injector to discuss. You may need a bit more product or an adjustment to the injection placement. In general, Botox results last about 3 months. Sometimes longer if you get them regularly. Best of luck.

Jessica H. Kim, MD, FAAD · Answer

No, it is not possible for topically applied activated charcoal to penetrate to the muscle layer to have any affect with botox.  I would recommend following-up with your provider and discuss your concerns so dosing can be adjusted or a different product could be used.

Reza Tirgari, MD · Answer

It is very unlikely that any topical agent could penetrate deep enough to affect the muscles where the Botox is doing it's action.  There's also no data that activated charcoal has this effect either.
The main issue is the amount of Botox that is being injected. Make sure you are receiving the amount of Botox that your practitioner is claiming is being injected.  And also make sure that it's enough to last the usual course.  Those two factors are usually the main concerns when I hear Botox is not lasting long enough.

Paul Blair, MD · Answer

I don't think so.  The charcoal cream can't penetrate to the muscle layer where Botox is working.  Why the Botox seems to be wearing off sooner could be related to the amount being injected and the technique of injection.

Shaun Patel, MD · Answer

No, I do not think the charcoal face scrub is having any effect on the longevity of your Botox results. Typically, Botox results last 3-4 months when an appropriate dose is used. If too low a dose is used, patients will still see a result however the result will not last as long as it should.

Is my activated charcoal face cream causing my botox injections to wear off quicker?

Answers (11)

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