Archive for January, 2016

Botox injections are one of the most requested cosmetic treatments on the market. They are sought after as a treatment to smooth the horizontal lines and wrinkles of the forehead, the “crow’s feet” at the corner of the eyes, necklines, and to smooth out creases in the chin area. Botox is also sometimes prescribed to treat medical conditions, such as migraine headaches, excessive sweating, muscle spasms, urinary incontinence, and others. How Is It Created? Botox is created from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which produces seven types of neurotoxins. Type A is the most powerful of the toxins and is marketed by Allergen Pharmaceuticals under the brand name Botox. Type B is branded as MyBloc and is marketed by Elan Pharmaceuticals. Type A was approved by the FDA to treat other […]

Botox, or botulinum toxin type A, is one of the most used non-surgical treatments in the United States. In 2006, sales surpassed $1 billion. It has been used to treat both cosmetic and medical ailments, including muscle spasms, excessive sweating, and forehead and eye wrinkles. But this versatile treatment has humble roots; it was discovered by studying moldy foods. Here is a short history of Botox, from its initial discovery to its modern-day applications: 1820s German scientists Dr. Kerner was studying spoiled meats in an effort to understand food poisoning. Dr. Kerner came across the first strains of what became known as the botulinum toxin. 1895 More than seventy years later, another scientist, Émile van Ermengem, building off Dr. Kerner’s work, discovered seven distinct strains of the botulinum toxin, including […]