Few treatments have taken off the way salmon DNA has. You may have seen it called a "salmon facial", "salmon sperm DNA", polynucleotides, or PDRN. These are largely the same thing described different ways, and the interest is well earned: it targets skin quality and the under-eye area, two of the hardest things to improve well. Here is a clear, honest explanation of what it is and how we use it at Silk Clinical.
What salmon DNA actually is
"Salmon DNA" refers to polynucleotides, sometimes written as PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotides). These are purified, low molecular weight fragments of DNA derived from salmon, chosen because they are remarkably compatible with human skin.
The different names can be confusing, so to keep it simple: polynucleotides and PDRN are the clinical terms, and "salmon DNA" or "salmon facial" are the popular ones. Brand names you may have seen, such as Rejuran, Plinest, or Nucleofill, are all polynucleotide products.
How it works
Salmon DNA is a regenerative treatment, not a filler and not simply a hydrator. Once in the skin, the polynucleotides do a few things at once. They calm inflammation, support local circulation, and, most importantly, signal your fibroblasts, the cells that build skin structure, to proliferate and produce fresh collagen (mainly types I and III) and elastin. The DNA fragments also act as raw materials the skin can use for repair.
The effect is a gradual improvement in skin density, firmness, and resilience. It is a tissue-quality treatment: it rebuilds the skin rather than resurfacing or plumping it.
Salmon DNA vs filler and standard boosters
It helps to place it alongside the treatments people already know.
- Filler adds volume with a cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel.
- A hyaluronic acid skin booster mainly hydrates and improves surface quality.
- Salmon DNA (polynucleotides) regenerates: it prompts the skin to make its own new collagen and elastin.
This is why polynucleotides have become the go-to for the under-eye area, where filler is so often the wrong answer. Thin, crepey, dark-shadowed under-eye skin usually needs quality and resilience, not volume, and that is exactly what salmon DNA is designed to build.
The needle-free option, using Ultraformer
Salmon DNA can be delivered two ways.
The established route is injection, placing the polynucleotides into the dermis with fine needles, which is direct and precise.
At Silk Clinical we also offer a needle-free option. Using the Ultraformer's Ultra Booster mode, the polynucleotide serum is carried into the skin with ultrasound rather than a needle. That makes it a natural pairing with an Ultraformer HIFU treatment in the same visit: structure and lift from the HIFU, skin quality and regeneration from the salmon DNA. It can also be booked on its own if you prefer a needle-free approach.
Who it suits, and what to expect
Salmon DNA suits anyone focused on skin quality rather than volume: dull, tired, thin, or crepey skin, and particularly the under-eyes, neck, and décolletage. Because it works by regeneration, results build over the weeks after treatment, and a short course gives the best outcome, with maintenance to sustain it.
As with any treatment, it is not for everyone, and it is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. We assess your skin, talk through your goals, and tell you honestly whether salmon DNA, a booster, filler, or a combination will do the most for you.
To see how salmon DNA compares with the other skin boosters, read Skin Boosters Explained: Sunekos, Profhilo, and Polynucleotides, or book a consultation and we will assess your skin in person.
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