Vialox
Also: Pentapeptide-3
Topical 'Botox-mimic' — reduces expression-line depth.
Evidence
emerging
Legal status
approved some regions
Half-life
Hours topically
Routes
topical
What it is
Vialox is used in serums and creams to relax facial muscles enough to soften expression lines. Effect size is modest compared to true botulinum toxin but it has no needles and no downtime.
Mechanism
Competitive antagonist of post-synaptic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.
Outcomes it's matched to
- STRENGTH50%
Safety
Generally well tolerated topically.
Legal context
Cosmetic ingredient.