Snakes tend to have a negative reputation in most cultures. The image of the tempting serpent is often used to evoke the tragedy of the original sin in Judaism and Christianity. Most English-speaking people would give the phrase “a brood of vipers” a very negative connotation, often using it to metaphorically refer to a group of individuals engaged in unsavory activities. A snake bite is often fear not for the fangs but because of the venom of the serpent. Even though the typical venomous snake does not always have potent enough venom to kill an adult person, the danger levels are still very high.
However, recent studies have shown that snake venom is not all that bad. Some snakes have venom that has potential medical uses, with one of them being linked to skin care. Yes, snake venom can be used for skin care.
To be specific, the venom of the Temple viper has been found to contain a compound that could be of great use to skin care and cosmetics. A tripeptide protein found in the venom of the Temple viper, which has been successfully synthesized by Canadian cosmetics company Euoko, has properties that make it very similar to the popular Botox. The component in the venom that has this ability, a protein known as Walgerlin-1, has potent uses as a muscle relaxant and anesthetic. The protein in the venom can be dangerous to humans, even when introduced topically, but experts claim that this is only due to the sheer concentration in Temple Viper Venom. The synthetic protein used has a lower concentration and is being advertised as a safe product to use; one which is more effective than Botox in removing wrinkles and making skin appear younger.
The protein is believed to relax muscles and inhibits muscle contraction. In large enough amounts, it can result in temporary loss of movement, but in controlled amounts, it can smooth skin tissue and remove wrinkles. The formula used by Euoko is also said to contain a mix of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and proteins that strengthen the skin, support the effect of the tripeptide main ingredient, and ease the transition of the chemical into the skin. This not only gives it a more nourishing effect than Botox, but it also makes it easier to use on people. The current formula developed by Euoko does not require an injection and can be applied topically, which many customers have been known to view as an advantage over most other products of this sort.
According to Euoko, they have done extensive internal testing to ensure that the formula is safe for use and does not have any of the highly toxic effects of Temple viper venom. They also claim that various third-party, independent laboratories were contracted to conduct tests to make sure that the synthetic venom does not have any toxic effects. While it is possible that very sensitive individuals might develop some nasty side effects, Euoko claims that there is absolutely no danger of dying because of using their snake venom-based skin care treatment.