Should You Worry About The Negative Side Effects Of Botox?
Botox is all the rage these days. Women over 30 use it to prevent wrinkles from forming, and women over 40 use it to reduce the appearance of wrinkles that have already formed.
But what about the negative side effects of Botox? Although Botox has a history of casusing dangerous health conditions, rarely do you hear anything about the negative side effects of Botox.
History Of Botox
In the 1820s, German physician Dr. Justinus Kerner set out to find the mystery behind the deaths of German citizens who had consumed sausage. He learned that the poor souls had been overtaken by botulism - food poisoning. Yes, one negative side effect of Botox is death.
With further study, Dr. Kerner distinguished seven different strains of botulinum toxin, naming them strains A through G. Dr. Kerner learned that only four strains - A, B, E, and F - are threatening to human life.
Mid-Century Development
During the 1950s and 1960s, Drs. Edward J. Schantz and Vernon Brooks experimented further, using controversial vivisection and animal testing techniques that are frowned upon today because of their cruelty, complete unnecessity, and inaccurate results. Nevertheless, they found that botulinum toxin type A, despite its risk to humans discovered by Dr. Kerner, was effective for treating crossed eyes and spastic vocal cords. Indeed, botulinum in small doses was found to be helpful in relieving muscle spasms of all kinds.
Botox Is Born
In 1989, the FDA approved botulinum toxin type A for treatment of crossed eyes and eye muscle spasms. Through the miracle of marketing, the botulism poison that had once killed German sausage eaters was renamed "Botox." Further experimentation found that Botox temporarily cured excessive sweating and some symptoms of cerebral palsy. Patients were followed closely to monitor any negative side effects of Botox treatments.
During the 1990s, Dr. Jean Carruthers noticed that patients being treated with Botox were surprisingly wrinkle-free. Dr. Carruthers and her husband, a dermatologist, conducted a clinical study that confirmed the ability of Botox to decrease frown lines.
Botox Today
Today, Botox is so widely used that it is administered by clinicians at home parties. Sales in 2006 exceeded $1 billion, and Botox has transformed itself from a poison into a successful cosmetic treatment that helps millions of people look younger.
Botox continues to be used for non-cosmetic treatments, like reducing muscle spasms in cerebral palsy patients, uncrossing eyes, and relieving patients of embarrassing facial twitches and spasms. Botox treatments last from three to six months. Most paients rush back to the doctor for repeat treatments after the effects subside because they are so pleased with the results of Botox. Negative side effects notwithstanding, Botox is here to stay.
