What is snail slime?
Snail slime is a kind of mucus secreted by a snail to provide a protective layer for the integument (external skin) when it moves. It also serves as a shield against environmental dangers such as harsh weather or harmful microorganisms. The mucus acts as a friction- reducing agent, enabling the snail to move along with ease. Additionally, the mucus will heal any wounds on the skin tissue caused by friction with rough surfaces. When the shell of the snail is cracked or broken, another type of mucus is secreted to heal or rebuild a new shell. All of which indicate the natural healing and regenerative powers of snail slime.
Siamese Snail Slime – A Powerful Skin Care Ingredient
Professor Somsak Panha, senior researcher at the Department of Biology , Head of
the Research Unit of Animal Systematics of Chulalongkorn University and the Director
of Thailand’s National Centre of Excellence on Biodiversity, has been a leading figure in
the research on the Siamese snail. With more than 30 years of studies and field research
behind him, Prof. Somsak notes that Thailand has more than 600 varieties of
the Siamese snail. The high biodiversity and climatic conditions of the country’s tropical
ecosystem enable the Siamese snails to not only thrive in greater variety but also
have greater anti-bacterial ability. As a result, their slime is superior to that of snails
in countries with cooler temperate climate. Research has proven conclusively that the slime
of the Siamese snail has cosmetic properties that yield 30 times better than those of snails in other countries.