Polynucleotides have moved quickly from a niche treatment to one of the most talked-about injectables in UK aesthetics. For anyone who keeps seeing the name but isn’t quite sure what it refers to or how it differs from fillers or skin boosters, here’s a clear explanation.
What Polynucleotides Actually Are
Polynucleotides are long chains of nucleotides, the same building blocks that make up DNA and RNA. In aesthetic medicine, they’re derived from highly purified fragments of fish DNA, which has a structural similarity to human DNA that makes it biocompatible and well-tolerated by the body.
They’re sometimes referred to by the abbreviation PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), which is a specific type of polynucleotide. Various branded products are available in UK clinics, all working through a similar mechanism.
How They Work in the Skin
This is what distinguishes polynucleotides from most other injectables. Rather than adding volume or relaxing muscles, they work at a cellular level.
Once injected into the skin, polynucleotides act as biostimulators. They activate fibroblasts, the skin cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. By doing so, they encourage the skin to rebuild and repair itself from within rather than supplementing it from outside. This also gives them meaningful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which is part of why they work particularly well for skin that has become sensitised, crepey, or reactive.
The treatment doesn’t add volume or change structure in the way dermal fillers do. What it does do is improve the underlying quality of the skin: texture, hydration, firmness, and overall radiance tend to improve gradually over a course of sessions.
What They’re Used For
Polynucleotides are versatile in terms of where they can be applied. Common treatment areas include:
- The face, for general skin rejuvenation and improving the quality of tired or crepey skin
- The under-eye area, where the skin is thin and delicate, and where traditional fillers carry a higher risk
- The neck and decolletage, areas often neglected, show age in texture and firmness
- The scalp, for stimulating hair follicle health in cases of early-stage hair thinning
They’re increasingly used alongside other treatments, dermal fillers, skin boosters, or energy-based devices, as part of a wider skin health plan rather than as a standalone fix.
How Many Sessions Are Needed and When Do Results Appear?
Unlike dermal fillers, where results are visible immediately, polynucleotides work gradually. Most people undertake a course of two to three sessions, typically spaced three to four weeks apart, to build the regenerative effect. Noticeable improvement in skin quality usually develops over several weeks to months as the collagen-stimulating response accumulates.
Results can last six to twelve months, depending on the individual and their skin condition, with maintenance treatments used to sustain the effect.
Who Are Good Candidates?
Polynucleotides suit a wider range of skin types and ages than many people expect. They’re relevant for:
- Anyone noticing a decline in skin quality, dullness, fine lines, or loss of firmness, even without significant volume loss
- Patients wanting skin improvement without structural change
- Those with more sensitive skin for whom stronger treatments may not be suitable
- Anyone looking to complement existing injectable treatments with a regenerative approach
How They Differ From Skin Boosters
Skin boosters, most commonly hyaluronic acid-based, primarily work by providing deep hydration to the skin. Polynucleotides go further: rather than hydrating, they actively stimulate the skin’s own repair and regeneration processes. The two treatments can work well together as part of a combined approach, addressing different aspects of skin health at the same time.
Get in touch to book a consultation with Dr Naz at the Liverpool clinic to find out whether polynucleotides are the right treatment for your skin goals.
