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Botulinum toxin type A is made by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. In nature, it’s an extremely powerful neurotoxin (a poison that attacks the nerves) and causes the type of deadly food poisoning known as botulism. But only very small, highly purified, and very safe amounts of the toxin are used in medical settings.
Both FDA-approved botulinum toxin drugs—Botox® and Dysport® —are injected directly into the muscles that are the source of the problem. To treat forehead wrinkles, for example, this means injecting the underlying corrugator and/or procerus muscles that cause the skin over time to display these persistent creases. To treat excessive underarm sweating, the drug is injected into the armpit muscles.
Botox and Dysport work by blunting the release of acetylcholine, a chemical that transmits the nerve signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. Thus, your muscles are able to relax, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and the production (in the armpits) of sweat.
For treating wrinkles, the toxin usually wears off after three to six months. When used to reduce sweating, it can last for up to eight months. |