What is botox made of?
Botox is used to reduce wrinkles on the skin and to treat other medical conditions. Botox is a drug and it is usually given in small doses.
It is a protein that is made from the toxin botulinum, produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Botulism is also caused by the same toxin. Botox is a TOXIN, but when given correctly in small doses it can provide several benefits. Botox can be used in cosmetics and medical. In cosmetics, it is used to treat facial wrinkles. FDA (FOOD AND DRUG REGULATORY AUTHORITY) has approved Botox as a treatment for many health problems such as migraine, spasms of the eyelid, sweating, and bladder infections.
What is botox?
Botox is derived from bacteria called C. Botulinum. This bacterium is present in natural settings such as forests, lakes, soil, the intestine of mammals, and fish. If this bacteria is present naturally is usually harmless. The problem begins when the spore formation of this bacterium is transformed and the population of cells increases. At certain times, Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacteria that are responsible for deadly neurotoxin which leads to botulism. This toxin is very dangerous as the crystalline form of one gram can kill one million people and if it present in kilograms it could kill every human on earth.
Botox used therapeutically:
When botox is used therapeutically in an appropriate manner, it is usually safe and has minimal side effects according to a report of AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC COLLEGE OF DERMATOLOGY. Botox injections are made with small doses of BOTULINUM TOXIN. It benefits people who have several nerve or muscle disorders by paralyzing the muscle temporarily. Preparation of Botulinum toxin that is manufactured commercially are:
- Onabotulinumtoxin A
- Abobotulinumtoxin A
- Incobotulinumtoxin A
- Rimabotulinumtoxin B
- Prabotulinumtoxin A
All these drugs are usually called Botox, but Botox is a trademark that is registered with one company.
Procedure for botox (1)
Before the procedure:
People usually don’t feel any discomfort during the procedure. Your doctor will numb the area of skin, especially when you are treating hand and soles for excessive sweating. Various methods are used to numb the skin by your doctors, such as ice, topical anesthesia, and vibration anesthesia. Vibration anesthesia requires massage to minimize the discomfort.
During the procedure:
Botox injections are usually done at a doctor’s clinic. A tiny amount of botulism toxin is injected into the skin or muscles with a thin needle. Injections to be injected depend on the extent of the area that needs treatment.
After the procedure:
After injection, make sure that you don’t rub the area of injection for at least twenty-four hours. This precaution will help you to prevent the toxin to reach other parts of your body. After injection and precautions, you can move on to your normal routine life.
Result of botox:
Botox will start working after 1 to 3 days after injection. The effect of botox usually lasts three months or more depending on the problem that is treated. If you want to maintain the effect for a longer period, you need regular treatment.
How does botox work?
It is a neurotoxin; it works by targeting the nervous system and disrupts the process of nerve signals that energize the contraction of muscles. This way drug can paralyze the muscle temporarily.
When the muscle contracts, chemical messengers are released by the nerve cells called acetylcholine. These messengers are released at the junction where the ending of nerves meets muscle cells. Receptors of muscle cells get attached to acetylcholine and it helps muscle cells to contract. Botox injections block the release of acetylcholine that prevents muscles to contract. This way, muscles become stiff.
Cosmetic uses: (2)
A main and common use of botox in cosmetics is reducing facial wrinkles. Botox is the most common and popular cosmetic across the world, according to the AMERICAN BOARD OF COSMETIC SURGERY. A survey report shows about seven million people had their botox treatment in 2016. It depends on the type of treatment and may last from three to twelve months. Effects of botox are not permanent. Botox injections are used for the following areas of the face:
- Wrinkles present between eyebrows are usually called FROWN LINES, GLABELLAR LINES, and ELEVENS.
- Crow’s feet are the wrinkles around the eyes
- Forehead with horizontal creases
- Lines present at the corner of your mouth
- COBBLESTONE on the skin of the chin.
One thing to notice is FDA has only approved Botox for the treatment around the eye and facial wrinkles. No research is present that shows if botox can be used to treat dark circles. Many people try botox to improve the texture and appearance of their hair but the results are not effective as they should be.
Medical uses:
Medical conditions can also be treated with botox by healthcare providers. Most conditions are related to the neuromuscular system. Botox treatments for medical conditions that are approved by FDA are:
- Spasticity of the upper limb can be treated for an individual who is older than 2 years
- STRABISMUS or CROSSED EYE can be treated in individuals older than 12 years
- HYPERHIDROSIS or sweating underarms.
- Migraine is treated in patients who suffer from pain for more than 4 to 15 hours or days in a month
- When anticholinergic medicine fails to help to reduce the symptoms of the overactive bladder because of neurological disease.
- Blepharospasm or spasm of eyelids due to dystonia
- Cervical dystonia is a disorder of neurological movement and usually affects neck and head pain
Some people also go for treatments that are not approved yet that include;
- Psoriasis
- Post herpetic neuralgia
- The production of excessive saliva is commonly called sialorrhea.
- Condition in which soles of hand and feet are affected due to dyshidrotic eczema.
- Dysfunction of anal muscle commonly called anismus.
- Pain and discomfort in the vagina without any clear cause is called vulvodynia.
- Problem with a throat that initiates difficulty in swallowing commonly called achalasia.
- Circulation is affected by Raynaud’s disease.
- Alopecia
Cost of botox injections:
Botox is measured in units, and the cost of botox per unit ranges from 10 dollars to 15 dollars. To treat the area of the forehead and eye and would require an average of thirty to forty units, so the total cost of botox ranges from 300 dollars to 600 dollars.
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