Botulinum toxin popularly known asbotox is a toxin produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. It is the same bacteria that causes the disease botulism, but the industrialized botulinum toxin is purified and used in doses that do not cause the disease. 

As it promotes the tightening effect under the skin, the aesthetic use of botulinum toxin occurs in general, mainly forsmooth wrinkles and expression lines on the face. 
 

There are several commercial names, botox is the best known name for botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin has subtypes such as A, B, C, the one used in medicine is type A. 

Industrialized botulinum toxins have small differences between them and are given subnames such as: OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®), AbobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®), RimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc® - not available in Brazil), IncobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®). Botulinum toxins from different companies have their own characteristics, dosages and effectiveness.