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Summary
Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It's the same toxin that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning called botulism. Doctors use it in small doses to treat health problems, including:
- Temporary smoothing of facial wrinkles and improving your appearance
- Severe underarm sweating
- Cervical dystonia - a neurological disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder muscle contractions
- Blepharospasm - uncontrollable blinking
- Strabismus - misaligned eyes
- Chronic migraine
- Overactive bladder
Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves. The effects last about three to twelve months, depending on what you are treating. The most common side effects are pain, swelling, or bruising at the injection site. You could also have flu-like symptoms, headache, and upset stomach. Injections in the face may also cause temporary drooping eyelids. You should not use Botox if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Learn More
- Botox Injections (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Botulinum Neurotoxin Injections (Dystonia Medical Research Foundation)
- Botulinum Toxin (Botox) (VisualDX)
- Botulinum Toxin (Botox) for Facial Wrinkles (American Academy of Ophthalmology)
- Botulinum Toxin Injections: A Treatment for Muscle Spasms (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Botulinum Toxin Therapy: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Counterfeit Version of Botox Found in the United States (Food and Drug Administration)
- Injectables and Wrinkle Treatment: Understanding Types of Treatments for Facial Wrinkles (American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
- Neuromodulators for Aging Skin (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
Specifics
-
Benefits of Botulinum Toxin: It's Not Just for Wrinkles
(National Institutes of Health)
Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Botulinum Toxins
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.