According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a record 7 million people received Botox injections in 2016, a 4 percent increase over the previous year. But as common as Botox has become for treating wrinkles in the face, it is becoming increasingly popular for use in other areas of the body, too. Check out this list of lesser-known uses for America’s favorite cosmetic injectable.

Hyperhidrosis

Do you sweat so much that your prescription-strength antiperspirant still isn’t good enough? Consider getting Botox injections in your underarms, feet, forehead or anywhere else with overactive sweat glands. Botox in the sweat glands works similarly to the way it works in wrinkles, by blocking the message your nerves send to your sweat glands, thereby stopping them from sweating.

Acne

Got a shiny T-zone? Or is there another area on your face that produces excessive oil? Try treating a few overly productive areas such as the forehead with Botox to help curb oil production.

Strabismus

Patients with strabismus or “crossed eyes” can benefit from Botox injections to the eye muscle. Though the treatment only lasts about three to four months, with regular use, treatments often begin to last longer. And, yes, the doctor will give you numbing drops beforehand!

Chronic Migraines

Anyone who experiences chronic migraines knows how debilitating they can be. Many chronic migraine sufferers can experience pain that lasts anywhere from weeks to even months. Botox can help by relaxing the cervical muscles of the head and neck, which may be responsible for the development of some chronic migraines.

Overactive Bladder

Though it is usually used as a last resort (when prescription medications for overactive bladder have failed), Botox can be used to help treat overactive bladder by relaxing the bladder, causing it to squeeze less and reducing the amount of leaked urine coming from the overactive bladder. Botox can even increase the capacity of the bladder to hold urine, so your bladder takes longer to fill up.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)

Dentists have begun treating patients with TMD with Botox injections to help loosen the tightness in the temporomandibular joint that is responsible for TMD pain. Most notably, Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel uses Botox to treat her TMD problems and has been a vocal supporter of this treatment.

Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm is the spasming of the eyelids, which causes the eyelids to repeatedly and uncontrollably open and close. Botox relaxes the muscles responsible for this rapid spasming in about 90 percent of patients.

If you would like to be evaluated for Botox to treat any of these problems, or if you’d just like to try it to help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, give Dr. Bruce Chau’s office a call at 888-966-9471.