Snail Mucin
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-aging
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Moisturizers, creams, cleansers, serums
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SNAIL MUCIN?
Snail mucin contains various bioactive compounds, such as hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid, collagen, elastin and allantoin, that can help improve skin hydration, elasticity, texture and tone. Snail mucin has been used in various skin care products and treatments for different skin conditions. Although scientific evidence for its use is still limited, snail mucin shows promise for treatment of photoaging. One split-faced, double-blinded randomized study indicated that patients who applied an anti-photoaging product containing snail mucin had significant improvement in wrinkles throughout the face.
Snail mucin may also be a therapeutic option for patients with burns. In-vitro studies indicate that snail mucin promotes survival of human keratinocytes and fibroblasts, which can accelerate wound healing. One study of an open, moist-burn management protocol found that patients treated with snail mucin experienced faster removal of burn debris, less pain and faster re-epithelialization compared to the placebo group. Snail mucin is under investigation as a therapeutic option for atopic dermatitis, radiodermatitis and melanoma, among other conditions.
WHAT IS SNAIL MUCIN?
Snail mucin is a rich, slimy, gelatinous compound produced by the African giant land snail and the common brown garden snail. Snail mucin has become popular as a Korean beauty product and has been used for treatment of a variety of skin conditions. Although the specific extraction techniques for snail mucin vary based on each manufacturer, methods of producing the mucin generally do not involve harm to the snails themselves.
IS SNAIL MUCIN SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
There is limited data on the safety of snail mucin, and its effects on patients of various skin tones is unclear at this time.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
There are no specific contraindications to the topical use of snail mucin. Medical professionals generally recommend avoiding ingestion of snail mucin due to the theoretical risk of contaminants. Patients interested in using this product should consult with a physician beforehand. The optimal dosing, delivery and formulation of snail mucin is still under investigation.
Sources:
- Nguyen JK, Masub N, Jagdeo J. Bioactive ingredients in Korean cosmeceuticals: Trends and research evidence. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Jul;19(7):1555-1569.
- Oh M-J, Park S-M, Kim H-T. The effects of snail secretion filtrate on damaged skin barrier’s recovery of atopic dermatitis. J Korean Med Ophthalmol Otolaryngol Dermatology. 2010;23(3):138–153.
- Tsoutsos D, Kakagia D, Tamparopoulos K. The efficacy of Helix aspersa Müller extract in the healing of partial thickness burns: A novel treatment for open burn management protocols. J Dermatolog Treat. 2009;20(4):219–222.
- Tribo-Boixareu MJ, Parrado-Romero C, Rais B, Reyes E, Vitale Villarejo MA, Gonzalez S. Clinical and histological efficacy of a secretion of the mollusk Cryptomphalus aspersa in the treatment of cutaneous photoaging. Cosmet Dermatology. 2009;22(5):247–252.
- Iglesias-de la Cruz MC, Sanz-Rodríguez F, Zamarrón A, et al. A secretion of the mollusc Cryptomphalus aspersa promotes proliferation, migration and survival of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts in vitro. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2012;34(2):183–189
- Fabi SG, Cohen JL, Peterson JD, Kiripolsky MG, Goldman MP. The Effects of Filtrate of the Secretion of the Cryptomphalus Aspersa on Photoaged Skin. J Drugs Dermatol. 2013 Apr;12(4):453-7.
