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Why are botulism neurotoxin (Botox) and other formulations used as cosmetic treatments or treatments for some medical conditions?

April 26, 2017Botox botulism Conditions cosmetic formulations medical neurotoxin treatments Used

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Why are botulism neurotoxin (Botox) and other formulations used as cosmetic treatments or treatments for some medical conditions?

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Interestingly, purified and highly diluted botulism toxin is being used to treat conditions that are characterized by abnormal muscle contractions. (Some examples of these conditions are torticollis, spasmodic dysphonia, achalasia, strabismus, oromandibular dystonia, and blepharospasm). Wrinkles are caused by repeated normal muscle contractions…no muscle contractions, no wrinkles. Consequently, many people elect to have the dilute toxin injected to reduce or stop wrinkles in the skin. This wrinkle treatment was approved by the FDA in 2002. Possible side effects of this treatment include bruising, ptosis (abnormal drooping of a body part, especially the eyelid), nausea, and dysphasia (difficulty with speech), but other side effects may also occur. Where can one find more information about botulism? http://www.emergentbiosolutions.com/rBOT/ http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic216.htm http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/285/8/1059 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum_toxin http://