Are there benefits to botulinum toxin?
You might wonder how something so toxic could ever be beneficial, but scientists have found that the paralyzing effect of botulinum toxin makes it useful in certain circumstances. Botulinum toxin (Botox, Myobloc) can be an effective medication when used in very small amounts. Botulinum toxin has been used to reduce facial wrinkles by preventing contraction of muscles beneath the skin, and for medical conditions, such as eyelid spasms and severe underarm sweating. However, there have been rare occurrences of serious side effects, such as muscle paralysis extending beyond the treated area, with the use of botulinum toxin for medical reasons.
