Botox usually brings to mind forehead or glabellar lines, but skin Botox (dermatoxin), where the same drug is injected shallowly into the skin rather than the muscle, has a somewhat different purpose. This article explains what dermatoxin is, why the Xeomin toxin preparation is used, and the criteria Skinique Clinic works to.
Dermatoxin: Botox placed in the skin, not the muscle
Dermatoxin combines "dermo" (skin) and "toxin" (Botox), and refers to skin Botox injected into the skin layer. Where conventional wrinkle Botox enters the muscle layer to reduce muscle movement and bulk, skin Botox places the same drug densely in a shallow layer near the dermis, aiming at softening fine lines, tightening pores, refining skin texture and a light lifted feel.
The procedure itself is relatively simple and changes tend to appear early, so many people seek it out ahead of an important date. The degree of effect and how long it lasts, however, vary between individuals.
Is it the same procedure wherever you have it?
Skin Botox is hard to compare on price alone, because the product used, the actual dose injected and the area covered differ from clinic to clinic. Some inject sparsely at a few points along the facial contour and still call it full face; others state a volume in cc without explaining how many units of toxin that actually contains. Skinique Clinic therefore holds to the following three criteria.
First, transparent disclosure of product and dose. Full-face Xeomin skin Botox uses 50 units of Xeomin diluted to 2.5cc and divided across five syringes, and before treatment the product to be used is shown to the patient directly, with its expiry date checked together.
Second, coverage across the whole face. Injection is divided into roughly 100 or more closely spaced points, taking in the forehead, the eye area, the mid-cheek region and the facial contour, and the individual concerns raised in consultation are reflected in the treatment plan.
Third, the technique needed for even delivery.
Skin Botox requires dozens of injections at a consistent depth and spacing in the shallow layer of the skin, and depends heavily on the practitioner's hand. Dose and coverage can be copied as figures, but evenness of delivery comes from experience, so Skinique Clinic makes it a rule for the attending practitioner to handle this part personally.
Why Xeomin is used
Xeomin is a preparation from which the complexing proteins associated with the development of resistance have been removed. For a treatment such as skin Botox that tends to be repeated at intervals, choosing a preparation designed to ease the burden of resistance over repeated sessions is meaningful from a long-term perspective. Detailed costs can be found on the price guide.
In summary
Dermatoxin (Xeomin skin Botox) is injected shallowly into the skin layer to address fine lines, pores and skin texture together. Since product, dose and coverage shape the outcome, it is worth checking the criteria a clinic works to before choosing. If you are wondering whether skin Botox is the right choice for your skin, ask via a chat consultation about the treatment that suits my skin.
This article was written by Dr. Park Tae-hyung. He is the chief director of Skinique Clinic and serves as academic director of the Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology. First published 20 April 2023 · Last reviewed 24 August 2026
This text is general medical information. Skin condition and response to treatment vary between individuals. Whether and how to treat should be decided through consultation.