Why do Snake shed their skin?

As snakes grow, one thing is certain, their skins does not grow with their size or length. Instead, they often shed their outer layer of skin from time to time so as to accommodate their increasing size. This process is known as molting or ecdysis.

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Molting is the formation of a new layer of skin beneath the old one such that once the new skin is ready, the old skin becomes loose and is eventually shed off. This shedding process is very vital for the snake’s growth and overall health, because it allows the snake to maintain a fresh, functional skin layer.

Shedding also plays a crucial role in maintaining the snake’s overall health by removing parasitic organisms, such as mites, that might have attached itself to the old skin, which can be harmful to the snake’s health. By molting, snakes effectively rid themselves of these unwanted explorers, ensuring their new skin is free from parasites and other potential annoyances.

Before molting

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Before shedding, the appearance of snake’s eyes may be milky blue colour or cloudy, which indicates that the old skin is wearing away. This sudden changes is part of the physical condition that prepares the reptile for shedding. Immediately the two eyes are clear, the snake will begin to rub its head against a stick or other rough surfaces to start the process of peeling off the old skin in the nose and mouth region, eventually, it will crawl out of the old skin completely. This process leaves the snake with a new layer of skin that is very vibrant.

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Incidents with shedding

Does the shedding process goes without incident? No.
Unfortunately, there are several shedding-related problems.
These include:

Incomplete shedding :–

There are several potential reasons for this, including unfavorable temperature and humidity also calcium deficiency. Incomplete molting refers to parts of the old skin remaining stuck to the snake’s body. This can results in infections and gangrene, so it can be a serious issue.

Retained eye caps:–

Snakes also molt off the skin filters that cover their eyes. These are called eye caps and can sometimes remain stuck for all the reasons I have already mentioned (i.e temperature, humidity and calcium deficiency). For that case, people with pet snakes need to contact their veterinary doctor to prevent eye infections and even blindness.

Infections:–

Incomplete molting can cause skin infections, which can lead to untimely dead. The main concern is the skin getting stuck around the tail or mouth, which can cut the blood supply to the area, leading to what is called tissue necrosis. These issues are the result of improper environmental parameters, especially low humidity, which causes dehydration.
Snakes may also stress out during shedding if environmental parameters are not right or you interact with it during shedding.

For people who has snake as a pet, they do help their Pet Snake during shedding, to ensure successful overhaul of the old skin.
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The 1st two pictures above were captured by me using NokiaC30