From slime to sublime: the impact of snail mucin on scar therapy and wound healing in dermatology

Snail mucin (SM) has garnered significant attention in dermatology, particularly for its potential in scar therapy and wound healing, due to its bioactive compounds, like allantoin, glycolic acid, and hyaluronic acid. These compounds are known to promote tissue regeneration, enhance skin hydration, and reduce scarring. However, despite growing interest, significant gaps remain in the clinical understanding of SM's therapeutic potential, including a lack of standardised formulations and limited clinical trials. There is a urgent need for more extensive human clinical trials to fully explore SM's potential in scar therapy, particularly given the potential safety concerns, such as skin irritation, sensitisation, and allergic reactions, these issues highlight the importance of toxicological evaluations and regulatory scrutiny. While current regulatory frameworks, such as from FDA and CIR, emphasise the importance of safety substantiation for SM-based products, no formal toxicological monographs exist. This review discusses the therapeutic relevance of SM, identifies research gaps, and emphasises the need for rigorous safety testing and clinical validation to support its use in dermatology.