What is Botox?

Botox, also known as botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin produced by a gram-positive bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. It is one of the most poisonous biological substances known to man. There are altogether 8 different exotoxins secreted by the bacterium and they are labelled as Type A, B, C1, C, D, E, F and G. The exotoxins bind to nerve endings and block the release of acetylcholine, which is a chemical acting as the chief neurotransmitter that transmits neural signals from the nerves to the muscles, leading to muscle paralysis. This blockage is irreversible, however within two to three months new synaptics contacts get re-formed and the muscles go back to their normal state.

Among all the 8 exotoxins, Type A is used as a drug for the management of various medical conditions and also for various cosmetological applications like treatment of wrinkles, creases etc. When Botox Type A is injected in the immediate vicinity of wrinkles, the muscles right around the wrinkles stop contracting due to the blocking affects of the neurotoxin and they then relax and soften which leads to wrinkles smoothening. The effect lasts for anywhere between 8-20 weeks.