What is Botox?
Linda Rogers
While a great many of us have heard the word Botox a great many times could we all explain exactly what Botox is? The article below explains exactly what it is in the simplest way so that anyone can understand the topic completely.
Botox is simply a poison, a specially treated form of the Botulinum Toxin. Botulinum is a poison, an extremely potent one, which is incredibly poisonous to humans. Without this special treatment Botulinum is one of the most poisonous substances to man.
Botox is the registered trademark for a specific product which is created using one of the seven neurotoxins (botulinum toxin A). Botulinum toxin A is made by the bacterium known as Clostridium botulinum, the same bacterium which causes Botulism. Botulism is a type of food poisoning which can cause death as it stops the messages from the brain being transmitted, by the nerves, to the muscles (which leads to paralysis).
FDA-approved Botox is accepted as safe and is used in the treatment of spasms and involuntary muscle contractions which are commonly seen in the likes of blepharospasm, cervical dystonia and strabismus. Even though Botox is a specific commercial product the word is used more generally to describe the popular skin care treatment to reduce facial wrinkles and fine lines.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the use of Botox Cosmetic in aesthetics but restricted to being available only on prescription. Only an injection of the lowest effective dose, of Botox, should ever be used and only one injection should be given every 3 months. Women who are breast feeding or who are breast feeding, plus those folk taking antibiotics, should avoid using Botox as they have increased risk of adverse reactions.
Usually carried out in a strictly controlled medical environment, the medical procedure, generally known as Botox, involves the injection of the product (Botox) into the facial muscles under the skin. This caused them to become, temporarily, paralyzed thus removing furrow lines & frown lines (glabellar lines) and wrinkles. Unfortunately, over a period of weeks, the effects weaken until they disappear altogether and the wrinkles and lines return.
Over the last few years Botox has become one of the most popular anti-aging treatment. So popular is it that people have created a social event around it. The so called "Botox Parties" are were groups of people have the treatment in a social environment rather than a medical one. The FDA have warned that such parties could be dangerous as the consumption of alcohol is common and having alcohol in the system when having the treatment can cause a dramatic increase in the amount of bruising.
As well as Botox there are other substances, such as the immensely popular brand Dysport, which are extremely similar. Such treatments, unfortunately, remove lines and wrinkles but leave the face looking more than a little expressionless and static. As a result many folk are looking for alternatives such as the popular anti-aging treatments microdermabrasion and various chemical peels.
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If you would like to discover more about botox please take a look at Information Junkie's Botox Articles.
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