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| What is Botox? |
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Botox® is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Small, diluted amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles causing controlled weakening of the muscles.
When Botox -- botulinum toxin A -- is injected into the muscles surrounding the eyes, for instance, those muscles can not "scrunch up" for a period of time. They are paralyzed. So the wrinkles in that area, often referred to as "crow's-feet," temporarily go away. |
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| My friend has been having Botox injections to "erase" his crow's-feet. Another friend says it isn't safe because Botox is actually botulism. Why would someone want to inject botulism into his skin? |
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Although Botox has been used in this manner for years, it was only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic use in April 2002. (It has been approved for the treatment of several medical conditions since 1989.) Botox is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. So, in a way, your friend is correct: Botox is related to botulism. Botulism is a form of food poisoning that occurs when someone eats something containing a neurotoxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Botulinum toxin A is successfully used to treat blepharospasm and strabismus, and botulinum toxin B has proven useful in treating cervical dystonia -- these are all conditions that in some way involve spasms, involuntary muscle contractions. Within a few hours to a couple of days after the botulinum toxin is injected into the affected muscle(s), the spasms or contractions are reduced or eliminated altogether. The effects of the treatment are not permanent, reportedly lasting anywhere from three to eight months. By injecting the toxin directly into a certain muscle or muscle group, the risk of it spreading to other areas of the body is greatly diminished. |
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