Experts: Botox use in young people could stunt their emotional growth

Youngsters, step away from the Botox.

A study out in the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing says that more and more people under 25 are seeking Botox injections, which take away a muscle's ability to contract as a way to diminish wrinkles, crow's feet, and frown lines. However, having a frozen face might keep these young people from understanding how to deal with their emotions.

Nurse practitioner Helen Collier conducted the research, and told the BBC that if you can't move your face, it's nearly impossible to learn how to express emotions. The facial feedback hypothesis suggests that in order for adolescents to determine how best to relate to people, they mimic their facial expressions. "As a human being our ability to demonstrate a wide range of emotions is very dependent on facial expressions," she said. "Emotions such as empathy and sympathy help us survive and grow into confident and communicative adults."

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Collier thinks instead of injecting young people with Botox, it's more important to have therapists work with them on increasing self-confidence. Also, while the effects of Botox are temporary, research points to muscles not fully recovering from injections. "Injecting teenagers with Botox for cosmetic purposes is morally wrong and something that no ethical practitioner would do," says Rajiv Grover, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. "This can only exacerbate body image issues at a vulnerable time."