In my last post about Botox, I shared how I personally feel about this wonder ant-ager and how it has changed my life. Today, I want to give you the timeline of this toxin’s evolution and how it came to be what it is today: the number one anti-aging treatment on the planet. So I hope you enjoy learning about this as much as I did. You know I geek out about all this stuff. But if you don’t, at least, you’ll have a little bit of trivia to share with your friends. Here’s the history of Botox.
FIRST, WHAT IS BOTOX EXACTLY?
Its real name is Botulinum Toxin Type A. It’s considered a medical product that contains a very small amount of purified botulinum toxin. When injected in tiny doses into specific areas, it blocks signals between nerves and muscles, causing the muscles to relax. As a result, the muscles that surround the wrinkles get immobilized and the wrinkles get smoothed out.
Before I get to the actual timeline, I want to share the story behind Botox’s wrinkle-reducing phenomenon. It was discovered by accident, as I’m sure all good discoveries are made.
THE BIRTH OF BOTOX FOR BEAUTY
A Canadian ophthalmologist named Jean Carruthers was injecting botulinum toxin near the brow of one of her patients who suffered from a condition known as blepharospasm — or excessive blinking. At the time (the late 1980’s), Botox was used to in ophthalmology to treat that condition and cross eyes as well.
The patient requested that the Dr. inject her in another area of her forehead because she had noticed a smoothing out of her wrinkles near the area where she had been previously injected.
Dr. Carruthers convinced her receptionist to try the toxin on her frown lines, and when she and her dermatologist husband saw the results, they knew they were on to something. He (the dermatologist) had the patients, and she (the ophthalmologist) had the toxin. And the rest, as they say, is history.
TIMELINE
1895: The bacterium Bacillus botulinum was identified by Professor Emile Pierre van Ermengem, from Belgium.
The 1920s: Botulinum Toxin Type A was isolated in purified form as a stable acid precipitate at the University of California, San Francisco. I have no idea what that even means but it’s part of the story, so let’s just go with it.
1946: Scientists went on to purify Botulinum Toxin Type A in crystalline form. This gave scientists the raw material they needed to study this molecule in more detail.
1953: It was discovered that injecting small amounts of Botulinum Toxin Type A into a hyperactive muscle caused the muscle to temporarily relax.
The 1960s: Ophthalmologist Dr. Alan B. Scott started injecting botulinum toxin type A into monkeys to treat crossed eyes (or strabismus). At that time, surgery was the only effective way to treat this condition.
The 1970s: Dr. Scott formed his own company, Oculinum Inc., where he continued to study botulinum toxin type in humans with crossed eyes.
1988: Allergan, Inc. acquired the rights to distribute Dr. Scott’s Botulinum Toxin Type A product, Oculinum. At the time, Allergan was essentially an ocular-care company that sold products like contact-lens cleaners and solutions for dry eyes.
1989: The FDA approved Botulinum Toxin Type A for the treatment of strabismus (the crossed-eye disorder) and abnormal eyelid spasms blepharospasm. The name was changed to Botox.
1991; The Drs. Caruthers (from the story above) presented their findings at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery after many clinical trials. They were told the idea was crazy.
2000: The FDA approved BOTOX for the treatment of abnormal head position and neck pain associated with a condition known as cervical dystonia.
2002: The FDA approved Botox for cosmetic use — specifically for the “temporary improvement of the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines (the vertical lines between the brows) in adult women and men ages 18 to 65.” The product was then marketed as BOTOX Cosmetic – Botulinum Toxin Type A.
2004: BOTOX neurotoxin was granted approval in the United States for the treatment of severe and excessive underarm sweating.
2017: Over 5 million Botox treatments were performed in the United States alone.
2018: Currently Botox is used to treat the following medical conditions:
♥ Cervical dystonia
♥ Muscle contractions caused by cerebral palsy.
♥ Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
♥ Chronic migraines
♥ Overactive bladder Botulinum toxin injections can also help reduce urinary incontinence caused by an overactive bladder.
♥ Eye twitching
♥ Lazy eye
♥ Crossed eyes
♥ Certain muscle spasms
Did you find this information helpful? Do you also like knowing the what, the why, and the how like I do? Let me know if you do. Next week, I’ll share the facts, the clinical trials, and the myths surrounding Botox. Stay tuned.
xoxo,
V