[Animals] Snail slime is a big hit in the skincare world, but does it really work?

[FNX Magokiler]

Consumers around the world are spending considerable amounts of money on cosmetic products containing snail slime, with a global market in 2022 valued at around $555 million (€507 million).

Following the boom in snail mucus skin care products in South Korea, the product (also called mucin or snail secretion) has spread widely on social media. North America is now the fastest growing market for snail-based skin products. But using snail slime for glowing skin and good health is more than just an influencer fad.

The ancient Greeks already used snail slime on the skin to combat topical inflammation. In the 1980s, Chilean snail farmers noticed that handling snails for the French food market left their hands softer and cuts healed faster, catapulting the popularity of snail slime in South America.

But does this popular slime really work? Here's how snail slime can cure more than just a dry face.

What does snail mucin provide to the skin?
Garden snails, the most studied snail species for skin care, produce slime that is advertised as hydrating, full of antioxidants, and capable of stimulating new collagen, which can reduce signs of aging.

 

 

According to Joshua Zeichner. , dermatologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York (United States).

Consumers buy snail slime-based products to repair damaged skin and retain moisture, according to dermatologist Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. Mucus is full of natural vitamins A and E, antioxidants that can reduce inflammation and signs of aging, and contains peptides that stimulate collagen production, adds Houshmand. However, Houshmand says more large-scale clinical trials are needed to test some of the purported effects of snail slime and better understand its active ingredients.

Snail slime extract has been shown to create a protective barrier between the skin and air pollution. In one study, a three-dimensional model of skin was used and exposed to ozone; The "skin" unprotected by the snail slime extract became inflamed and showed signs of aging from oxidative stress, which causes wrinkles and uneven skin tone. The "skin" protected by the mucus extract showed less inflammation.

 

https://www.nationalgeographic.es/animales/2024/01/baba-caracol-cuidado-piel-realidad-eficacia