The desire to look and remain young forever has lured the minds of humans since the very beginning of our civilization. But can this be achieved by a poison? This article deals with the evolution of Botulinum toxin A, better known as Botox, from a deadly neurotoxin to a means of biological warfare, finally paving its way to a universally recognised cosmetic enhancing tool. Origin of Botulinum Toxin Botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox is derived from an obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Although there are eight different subtypes of botulinum, viz. A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F, & G; Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is the most potent of all subtypes and thus, sees its use in clinical as well as cosmetic fields. How BTX-A came into use? The story of Botox in dermatology, particularly for cosmetic enhancement began in the 1990s, when a Canadian ophthalmologist, Dr Jean Carruthers,…
