The ever popular cosmetic treatment known as a Botox injection offers claims that it eliminates lines and wrinkles from the skin. During the non-surgical procedure, the substance Botulinum toxin Type A, not actual botulism, is injected under the skin into the layer of muscle beneath. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Botox has been deemed as a safe way to rid the skin of those bothersome frown lines between the eyes.

Botox basically prevents muscles from contracting when we are tense or angry. We can move our muscles through chemical communication between nerves and muscles. Nerve endings release the hormone acetylcholine which binds itself to receptors in the muscle. The binding of acetylcholine to receptors in the muscles tell them to contract when we feel strong emotions like anger or when we are tense.

The effects of it are rather temporary. After a period of around three to five months, the body's muscles have created new acetylcholine receptors and regained their ability to again feel the signal from the nerve telling it to contract or expand. In order to keep the wrinkles from reappearing, one must have the procedure repeated on a regular basis, although this doesn't guarantee that the wrinkles will ever disappear permanently.

This only works on wrinkles formed by muscle contractions but those caused by the aging process are difficult to rid of. They are caused by loss of collagen underneath, thus developing breaks in the collagen layer. Skin folds form on the upper dermis causing shadows of the skin folds to become visible. Though these kinds of wrinkles may be difficult to eliminate Botox injections can probably soften them.

An alternative to the Botox procedure is found in Argeriline. It is a synthetic peptide used as part of the ingredients in many anti aging skin care products. Argireline, which has the chemical name of Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (AH3), is one of the most often used active ingredients as an alternative to botox. It is sometimes referred to as "topical botox". By inhibiting the release of neurotransmitters that initiate and control the intensity of muscular contractions of the face, it relaxes neural endings in wrinkles.

When choosing the best anti-wrinkle cream, always remember to check the product's ingredients on the packaging label before you buy. Better yet, read wrinkle cream reviews with wrinkle cream ratings in them to find the best anti-aging creams and serums for your type of skin.