What Is Botulinum Toxin?
Botulinum Toxin is one of the most popular terms in the cosmetic field. However, although you may encounter this term often, a lot of people may still not know what it really is. So, here are the essentials that you should know about this wonderful substance.
Early Beginnings
If you would be searching the Internet for this substance, a lot of medically inclined sources would say that Botulinum toxin is considered to be one of the most deadly substances in the world. This is much true. However, this mere description should not be a reason for you to get scared with this substance.
It is a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium responsible for most rigorous type of food poisoning or botulism. A German poet and physician named Justinus Kerner discovered it between 1817 and 1822. It was in 1870, when Muller, another physician named it botulism taken from the Latin word botulus meaning sausage.
How It Works
The toxin works by blocking the discharge of acetylcholine from your nerves and damaging your muscles ability to respond to acetylcholine, which results to muscle paralysis. Ophthalmologists first used this toxin in 1960’s to cure eye muscles disorders. It is also a drug used to treat neuromuscular disorders and severe migraines.
Cosmetic Use And Side Effects
This substance is also used in the field of cosmetics because it has a therapeutic effect of muscle relaxant. In exceptionally small amounts, it hinders the discharge of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction thus causing your facial muscles to relax and temporarily hide away your facial lines and wrinkles. However, it has a short-term effect; it only lasts up to 3 to 6 months.
If used incorrectly, this toxin could lead to a number of side effects, such as eyelid dropping and an uneven smile. Other side effects also occur such as bruising at the injection site, neck pain, nausea, upper respiratory tract infections, dysphasia, abdominal discomfort, headache and flu-like sensations.
Concurrently, people observed that those who used it had decreased sweating on the injection area. This directed the way to study its function in hyperhidrosis.
Hyperhidrosis Treatment
Hyperhidrosis is described as excessive sweating, commonly in the palms and underarms. It can be quite bothersome and embarrassing for a person who has this condition. It can cause limitation to social activities, skin infections and body odor. Botulinum toxin works in hyperhidrosis by blocking the secretion of acetylcholine. It will take effect after 3 days and the maximum effect will take place after a week. It is 90% effective and last for only 7 months.
