Botulinum toxin type A is a substance that comes from a bacteria, which can help block nerve signals that take place within the muscles. The toxin was first used to relieve neurological disorders, such as, lazy eye, muscle spasms and uncontrolled blinking. But the toxin also produced another benefit, it reduced the lines on the skin, where the injections took place. Once people realized that the toxin could reduce wrinkles, a completely different market opened up.

Botulinum toxin type A didn't fall out of thin air, it was first isolated in purified form as a stable acid, in the 1920s. In 1946, it was purified in crystalline form. In the 1960s and 70s, botulinum toxin type A was tested on monkeys with eye problems to see if the toxin would have an effect on the monkeys. It was proven that a small injection of toxin in the eye muscles was able to correct the monkeys eye condition. In 1978, the FDA approved botulinum toxin type A for testing on humans.

The common name for botulinum toxin type A, is Botox. The procedure is simple, the Botox is injected into the wrinkled area. The injection will temporarily paralyze the muscles underneath the wrinkles. You will still be able to make normal facial expressions, but wrinkle lines won't form. A treatment will usually last from 3 to 6 months. The areas most commonly treated are the forehead, between the eyebrows, on the nose, around the corners of the eyes and the neck.

Don't expect to see the full effect of Botox immediately after treatment, it normally takes 3 to 7 days before the treatment fully kicks in. Treatment isn't totally painless. There could be soreness or bruising, where the Botox was injected; also, headaches may occur if there's an injection in the forehead. The Botox may accidentally spread into unintended muscles, which can cause temporary paralysis in the muscles that are affected.

Most people never heard of botulinum toxin, but people don't seem to worry about what's in a miracle cure, as long as it works. It's not until the medicine stops working, or there's some horrendous side effect, that people will get concerned. And it shows how people feel about aging, when you consider that lots of people gladly have a toxin injected into their bodies, yet the same toxin would kill them if they consumed it in contaminated food. Apparently, Botox is for anyone who can afford it, although you probably shouldn't have the injections if you're pregnant. A Botox injection can average around $400 and, because it's a simple procedure, there usually aren't any extra costs.

Botox is not a cure for wrinkles or aging. The treatments will have to be repeated to retain the effects. Repeated injections may cause the treatments to last longer, because the injected muscles may eventually get thinner. Botox, as a wrinkle remover, is still relatively new. Everyone thinks it's safe, but it will be years before anyone can know the true effects of the injections. However, people seem willing to try anything that might turn back the hands of time.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Botox