Popular health influencer and medical doctor, Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, has warned Nigerians about the growing trend of applying live snails directly to the face for skincare, citing serious health risks including brain inflammation and severe infections.
In a video shared on his social media platforms on Monday, Aproko Doctor debunked the belief that live snails are a natural or superior source of snail mucin. He highlighted that the Giant African Land Snail, commonly found in Nigeria, is a known carrier of a parasite called rat lungworm, which can cause a rare form of meningitis, inflammation of the brain.
“This parasite can cause a rare form of meningitis. That’s inflammation of your brain. And these types of snails, these land snails, are the most common carriers,” he explained.
Aproko Doctor also questioned the hygiene of snails collected from backyards or bushes, noting that they crawl through soil, dead leaves, and rodent waste. “You need to ask yourself, where did they train these snails? Some don’t even train it. You just go inside the bush, pick a snail. What has it been eating? It has been eating soil. It has been eating dead leaves, whatever it can find. It has even passed through where rat excrement is,” he said.
He warned that bacteria on the snail’s body and slime can cause skin infections, especially if applied to pimples or broken skin. Additionally, unfiltered snail mucus can trigger allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to molluscs or shellfish.
“Live snail mucus is not processed; it’s unfiltered. People with shellfish or mollusc sensitivity can react to it, and it may cause swelling rather than glowing skin,” he noted.
While Aproko Doctor emphasized that certified skincare products containing processed snail mucin are safe, he urged Nigerians to rely on basic health practices for skin care. “Real skin glow comes from inside. Drink water to stay hydrated, eat fruits rich in vitamin C, get enough sleep, and protect your skin from UV damage with sunscreen,” he advised.