Snail mucin or snail slime is a highly glycosylated protein secreted by the glands of the snails. It is sometimes used as a constituent for skincare products. Recently, it has gained popularity with over one billion TikTok views under the search term “snail mucin.”
The question that raises confusion regarding “Is snail mucin good for the skin?” can now be answered. And for that, you need to stick around to know the potential benefits of using snail mucin in your skincare routine.
What Is Snail Mucin?
Snail mucin is an oozing substance produced by snails for moisture retention, lubrication, and adhesive purposes. It enables them to crawl over or stick on surfaces. Moreover, people who do skincare use it in skincare against inflammation and anti-aging. The same has made its way into the U.S. thanks to its popularity. To better understand, let us discuss various chemical compounds that facilitate skin care.
Collagen and Elastin: Natural proteins that form the connective tissues in the body promote skin strength. While lasting, it improves your skin’s ability to stretch and bounce back into place.
Glycolic acid: An exfoliant for shedding off dead layers of skin and controlling hyperpigmentation is present. The name is glycolic acid.
Allantoin is a natural compound believed to heal wounds, has moisturizing effects on human skin, and is an anti-inflammatory action against irritants.
Source: Freepik
5 Benefits of Snail Mucin For The Skin
Research is still new, but some evidence suggests that snail mucin has many benefits.
Adds Moisture to Skin
Increased hyaluronic acid, which is present in snail mucin, helps fight dryness and maintain moisture in the skin.
Prevents Premature Aging
There may be some possibility that snail mucus can curb aging over time. As shown in one study, women who had used a daily skincare routine for 12 weeks could reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Thus, one of the snail mucin benefits leads to an overall improvement in several parameters associated with skin aging.
Aids Wound Healing
There are antibacterial agents present in snail mucus that have wound-healing properties. For instance, garden snails’ mucus has helped regenerate human skin. It is also capable of treating internal wounds apart from external ones. Its effectiveness against peptic ulcers, which are commonly caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has been demonstrated8.
On the other hand, more investigation is needed on whether these remedies could serve as a cheaper substitute for expensive synthetic antibiotics in wound treatment.
Guards Against Skin Cancer
Melanoma is one severe variant of cancer that one might get exposed to. However, according to claims, it can be prevented by snail mucin on the skin.
Nonetheless, oral intake of snail mucin could reduce symptoms associated with ultraviolet B radiation from the sun. These rays cause sunburn, aging, and skin cancer. However, further research on humans will help to confirm this similarity.
Source: Freepik
Skin Exfoliation
People wonder what snail mucin does. Well, it does provide many benefits, some of which are discussed in this blog. Additionally, it is imperative to state that mucin contains glycolic acid that gently exfoliates to make skin look brighter and smoother. It breaks down keratin (a protein found in hair, skin, and nails), eradicating rough or dry skin patches. Safe for use as an exfoliant for acne treatment and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, this can be an essential aspect of your skincare regimen.
Snail Mucin’s Side Effects
With that, we can now discuss the possible side effects of snail mucin. First and foremost, one should note that there are no side effects of snail mucin. Most skin types can well tolerate them. Secondly, the biology and chemistry regarding how this mucus interacts with the human body are not fully understood.
These are the side effects one may experience after using this skincare product.
- Skin irritation.
- Red rough patches on the skin surface.
- Feeling itchy all over your skin.
- Swollen skin.
- Raised bumpy areas.
- Sections of dry, cracked skin.
- Flaky areas of peeling skin or scaling off small pieces of the epidermis.
Can Pregnant Women Use Snail Mucin?
None of the FDA approvals about snail mucin products exist as of now. No research has been done on applying snail mucin, especially during pregnancy. Therefore, you must speak with your doctor before utilizing any snail mucin formulation if you are pregnant.
To Sum It Up
Recently, natural skin care products have been touting snail mucin. Manufacturers claim their products can make you look younger, while others say they can moisturize dry skin. However, scientific studies do not support this.
In addition, you should be cautious when attempting any new skincare products. You may need to consult with health professionals about whether or not to use snails, as it can result in any other dermatological condition. One needs to explore and research the real power of mucus thoroughly.
References
Giorgi, A. (January 10, 2024). What Does Snail Mucin Do for the Skin? VeryWellHealth.
Helton, B. (September 18, 2023). What Is Snail Mucin? Benefits, Side Effects And Usage. Forbes.
