Botulinum toxin was first discovered at the end of the 19th century by the Belgian bacteriologist Emile van Ermengem. He identified the bacterium Clostridium botulinum as the cause of food poisoning and isolated the toxin. Research on botulinum toxin continued in the 20th century, particularly with regard to its medical applications. In the 1950s and 1960s, the first studies were carried out into therapeutic uses of the toxin, particularly for the treatment of strabismus and other eye muscle disorders. In the 1980s, botulinum toxin type A (which later became known as Botox®) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of strabismus and blepharospasm (involuntary twitching of the eyelids).
The cosmetic use of botulinum toxin, particularly for the treatment of facial wrinkles, gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The FDA approved Botox® for the cosmetic treatment of glabellar lines (frown lines between the eyebrows) in 2002. Since then, botulinum toxin has become one of the most frequently used agents in cosmetic and aesthetic medicine. The development and use of botulinum toxin is a famous example of how a bacterium originally identified as poisonous became an important agent in medicine and cosmetic treatments. Botulinum toxin is a naturally occurring protein and neurotoxin.
There are different types of botulinum toxin (type A, B, C, etc.) that block the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, and thus block muscle contractions. Botox® is actually a brand name for a specific type A botulinum toxin preparation manufactured by the company Allergan. It is the best known and most frequently used product of this type for cosmetic and medical applications. The term “Botox” has established itself in common parlance as a synonym for botulinum toxin treatments, similar to “Kleenex” for handkerchiefs.
Botox® and other botulinum toxin products are all used for similar applications. When it comes to cosmetic applications, they are mainly used to treat facial wrinkles. In medicine, they are used to treat migraines, excessive sweating, certain muscle spasms and other conditions. In short, Botox is a specific brand of botulinum toxin product, while botulinum toxin is the umbrella term for the toxin itself and its various brands and formulations.
