What Is Snail Cream?

 

 

What is Snail Cream.

Snail cream is made from snail slime, known in the industry as snail secretion filtrate. It is packed full of collagen and elastin, both vital to healthy skin, hyaluronic acid, the natural glue that holds collagen and elastin together in the skin, and antioxidants. It’s also rich in glycoprotein enzymes, antimicrobial and copper peptides, and proteoglycans, all natural ingredients that are typically added to other skin care creams and lotions.

Check out our readers reviews and snail cream page here.

How Snail Cream Works

Snails excrete a thick fluid when they’re agitated as a means of protecting themselves. This secretion is very similar to the way our skin releases oils to protect and moisturise itself. This snail slime, known in the industry as snail secretion filtrate, is packed full of nutrients including hyaluronic acid, glycoprotein enzymes, antimicrobial and copper peptides, and proteoglycans, all of which are commonly found in cosmetic products and known to posse properties that are beneficial to the skin.


Scientific Studies

Snail secretion filtrate has been investigated in a number of laboratory studies, the first being in 2004 where a study showed that intensive treatment of the skin with snail secretion filtrate for a period of over 90 days significantly reduced the number of and appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by 45.5% and 26.7% respectively. In 2009 43 burn patients took part in study on the effectiveness of snail extract at treating burns. One group made up of 27 patients used snail scream twice a day whilst a control group used moist exposure burn ointment (MEBO). The patients who in the group using snail cream showed far more improvement in the appearance of their burns than the control group, concluding that snail extract was both effective and safe at treating burns.

More recently, in 2012, research on skin samples that were being artificially kept alive found that snail secretion filtrate allowed them to multiply more easily and increased collagen production.

Snail cream benefits

Snail cream is far more than just another beauty fad, it has been shown to be beneficial in the management, prevention and treatment of numerous skin conditions, from acne, to ageing, as well as medical uses, including the effective treatment of burns and surgical scarring. Check out our reviews page here.

Acne treatment

Snail creams are the perfect solution to acne, ridding yourself of it once and for all. In addition to acne, snail cream is also effective at dealing with; black heads, cystic acne lesions, clogged pores, pimples, as well as new and historic acne scars. The most effective snail creams are those with little to no oil ingredients, and the effects of are typically noticeable after 2-4 weeks of use, however, it’s important to be aware that historic acne scaring will take longer to fade, typically after 3-4 months of consistent use.

Burn treatment

Snail cream has been shown to be effective at treating burns and was the subject of a scientific study back in 2009. The cream was shown to be more effective than moist exposure burn ointment (MEBO), a treatment that is commonly used to treat burns. This study also concluded the safety of snail cream as an alternative treatment for burns.

Dry skin

Snail slime is particular effective at treating dry skin as it has been shown to have good skin regenerative, exfoliating and moisturising properties. The composition of snail slime is very similar to that of our own skin, so using it ensures that the skin gets all of the vital nutrients that are essential to keep it healthy.

Fine lines and wrinkles

Snail cream has been shown to reduce the signs of ageing, reducing and fading the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It does this in two ways; by helping to more effectively exfoliate dead skin cells and by replenishing the collagen and elastin in your skin. This will leave your skin looking younger, smoother and healthier, with noticeable effects within the first 2-3 weeks of using snail cream.

Flat warts

Snail cream is a natural, safe treatment for flat warts. Snails are known to have been used by the ancient Greeks to treat warts. They would apply live snails directly to the affected area, allowing the snail to secrete its nutrient-rich slime directly to the wart. Snail cream is typically effective on flat warts within 2 weeks of treatment.

Ingrown hairs and razor bumps

The skin cell regenerative properties and glycolic acid contained within snail cream helps to effectively repair and exfoliate the skin after shaving. This helps to reduce any swelling, redness or razor bumps, and also moisturises. Simply apply a small amount of the cream immediately after shaving for best results.

Remove scars

Snail slime is known for its skin healing and regeneration properties. It is effective at reducing the appearance of scars, both new and historic, blemishes and even raised keloids. Snail creams are a popular treatment for dealing with scars left after plastic surgery and is even used by a number of hospitals to improve the scars of burn victims. For old scars, it is recommended that snail cream is used twice daily for 3- 4 months for the best results.

 

Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin condition that results in persistent redness, pimples and visible blood vessels on the face. Over time the condition spreads to the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin of Rosacea sufferers. The ingredients found in snail cream help treat rosacea; glycolic acid in snail cream works to exfoliate and removed impurities from the skin, allantoin helps the process of regenerating the skin, and the proteins collagen and elastin help improve the firmness and elasticity that is essential for healthy skin. Some sufferers will experience a worsening of their symptoms when first using snail cream, however, it’s important to not become discouraged, as visible improvements are usually seen after 14 days.

Stretch mark fading

Snail slime can help to fade stretch marks, working to heal and repair damage that is caused by stretch marks to the skin. The high levels of natural collagen found in snail slime helps to bind the skin, regenerating it from the inside up. It is effective at treating new and old, greyish stretch marks, although it is most effective on newer, purple and pink stretch marks. You should notice the effects of snail scream on stretch marks within the first month of its use. It’s also an effective means of avoiding stretch marks and is perfectly safe to use during pregnancy.

Sun spots, liver spots, age spots, freckles and lentigines

Snail cream can treat all of these conditions. Simply apply cream twice daily to the affected area and you can typically expect to see results within 2 weeks of consistent use. Try to avoid excessive sun light while undergoing treatment. You can do this by applying sun block to the affected area a few minutes after the snail cream.

Snail cream ingredients

Snail slime is full of natural nutrients and proteins that include hyaluronic acid, glycoprotein enzymes, antimicrobial and copper peptides, and proteoglycans. These ingredients are commonly found in skin care creams and lotions.

Allantoin

Allantoin is a naturally occurring compound that is found in numerous organism, including animals, bacteria and plants. It is a soothing, anti-irritant skin protectant that helps to increase water content of the extracellular matrix, a collection of extracellular molecules that are secreted by cells to provide structural and biochemical support to the surrounding cells and connective tissue within the body. Allantoin also improves the appearance and feel of skin, increasing smoothness, and promoting cell replication, a process that is essential to the healing of burns, scars and wounds.

Collagen and elastin

Collagen and elastin are two proteins that are a core component of connective tissue throughout the body. Collagen gives connective tissue its flexibility and strength, and elastin helps tissue to return to its original shape after it has been stretched. Collagen is far more widespread throughout the body than elastin, but both are essential to the function and generation of skin tissue. Collagen is so prevalent throughout the body that it accounts for as much as one third of its total protein, or around 6% of the body’s total weight. There are over 20 different types of collagen in the body, and these are responsible for all sorts of fibers, from ligaments and tendons, to cartilage, bone tissue, and of course, the skin. Elastin’s main property is its elastic quality. It returns to its original shape after being stretched or compressed, giving tissues that contain it their elasticity. It’s known that collagen and elastin play a crucial role in the aging process. As we age, collagen becomes more rigid and cross-linked, leading to a number of problems associated with old age. Both proteins are also linked to the formation of fine lines, wrinkles and eventually leathery skin, as our natural production of collagen and elastin reduces with age.

 

Glycolic acid

Glycolic acid is a natural ingredient that is derived from sugar cane, although now it is often synthetically made. It is an alpha hydroxy acid and works as an exfoliator, helping to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. It is the most common alpha hyrdroxy acid and is known to be the safest, making it perfect for use in skin care products as it doesn’t irritate the skin as other alpha hydroxy acids can do. Gycolic acid also helps to lighten skin discoloration cause from exposure to sun light, effectively reducing sun and age spots. It is also known to be useful in treating those who have skin that is prone to acne and blackheads.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a natural compound found within the skin. It is essential for a number of important functions, including cushioning, holding moisture, tissue repair, holding collagen and elastin together, and protecting against micro-organisms.

Hyaluronic acid is a key component in moisturising products as it holds 1,000 times its own weight in water, making it useful in not only delivering water to the skin, but also in keeping it there. Hyaluronic doesn’t permeate the deeper layers of the skin, instead, it remains near the skin’s surface, where it moisturises the skin.

Wrinkles form in part due to the loss of hyaluronic acid from the skin, so restoring this loss through the application of products that contain hyaluronic acid is beneficial in reversing the signs of ageing. It is available in creams, lotions and fillers, all of which have been shown to be useful in reducing the appearance of wrinkles, resulting in skin that looks younger and has a better tone, making it smooth and supple.

If you want to learn more about snail creams you can visit our snail cream reviews page to see which products we recommend.