Why is this blog post like President’s Day? Because we’re linkin’ to the Cosmeticchem blog. (Get it? Lincoln?)
CosmeticChem is curious…What is a topical Botox(tm)? Does it work the same way as injectable Botox(tm)? So far how many “In-vivo” studies have been done to check the efficacy?
The Right Brain responds:
Topical Botox(tm)? Yeah, right. That’s right up there with anti-wrinkle lotions that work like lasers, hair growth products, Bigfoot, and the Easter Bunny. Wait a minute…what’s that? There’s a peer reviewed, placebo-controlled study that says this might actually work?!? What the hell?!?
Promising test results for topical Botox
A 2010 study conducted by Dermatology Research Institute, LLC, Coral Gables, Florida , sponsored by Revance Therapeutics, Inc., Newark, California, found botulinum toxin type A (also known as Botox(tm)) significantly decreased lateral canthal lines (LCLs also commonly known as crow’s feet) when applied from a topical gel.
It’s a small study (n=36 adults) but it certainly looks promising: the results, which were statistically significant at the 99% confidence interval, 50% of the panelists showed a decrease in LCLs by 2 units or more on an x unit scale compared to a placebo control (after 8 weeks). What does all that mean? Unlike so many studies on cosmetic products, this one was done with in vivo (on real people, not just in a test tube in the lab); it was done with a proper control (tested against a gel that did NOT contain the toxin); and the results where statistically significant (which is indicative that the results will be repeatable.)
Stylist.com interviews a dermatologist who comments on the study and raises concerns such as the fact that the effect is much less than you will see from injectable Botox(tm) and that it’s likely to only work on crow’s feet because it’s easier for the toxin to penetrate the thin skin around the eyes.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Topical Botox(tm) is apparently more reliable than Bigfoot or the Easter Bunny, which is more than you can say for a lot of anti-aging products. It will be interesting to see if further testing leads to a commercially viable product.
Reference: Dermatologic Surgery
Image credit: http://13thstreetstudio.typepad.com/13th_steet_studio/illustration_friday/
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve seen some odd products containing snake venom that is said to work like botox.
I think if it is successful many people will start using it would be better than injections.But, I am yet to see a person who looks younger because of botox.
And here’s another one. Any opinions on this products?http://www.phend.co.za/natox/index.htm
@Traci: Wow. I looked at Phend’s Natox product that claims to be the “world’s first natural Botox.” To be honest, even after reading their clinical study (which is only their summary of the study, not really the study itself), I can’t figure out what the heck they’re talking about. Their explanation of the “sympathetic vibratory harmonic of acetylcholine that forms part and partial of the crystaline structure within the water carrier of Natox” reeks of pseudoscience, if you ask me. All I can tell for sure it that the ingredient list of the product shows it’s based on salicylic acid.
Thanks for looking! I appreciate it.
I would rather go for alternatives to botox rather than having an operational botox. Alternatvies to botox can be safe and painless. But the results you can get from natural botox are them. this also help get rid of wrinkles and lines.