Polynucleotides

What polynucleotides are

Polynucleotides are short fragments of purified DNA, derived from cold-water fish (salmon or trout) DNA and refined to medical-device grade. When injected into the dermis, they act as a regenerative scaffold: they signal fibroblasts to increase activity, support extracellular matrix repair, and modulate local inflammation. The pharmaceutical predecessor of these products — PDRN — has been used for decades in tissue repair, including ulcer healing and ophthalmology.

In aesthetic medicine, polynucleotides are valued for one specific superpower: they improve skin biology without adding volume. That makes them one of the few injectables genuinely suitable for thin, crepey under-eye skin where filler is the wrong tool.

What they do well

Polynucleotides are particularly useful for:

• Periorbital skin — thin, crepey or dark under-eye skin that needs regeneration rather than volume
• Post-acne skin — dullness, residual textural change and a generally tired skin quality after acne has settled
• Crepey neck and décolletage — early laxity and quality loss
• Reactive or sensitive skin — the anti-inflammatory effect is genuinely useful here
• Skin recovery after laser or needling courses — they support repair phase quality

Mechanism

The DNA fragments act through several routes: direct stimulation of fibroblast activity, modulation of local inflammation, support of microcirculation and a 'sponge' effect that helps maintain hydration. Crucially, polynucleotides do not occupy space the way hyaluronic acid filler does — they are absorbed and replaced by the patient's own remodelled tissue over weeks to months.

Who suits the treatment

Polynucleotides suit adults from late 20s through 60s with concerns around skin quality rather than structural change. They are particularly worth discussing if you have considered tear-trough filler but been told you are not a candidate (because your under-eye skin is too thin, too dark or too crepey for filler to look natural). They are also useful for clients with sensitive skin who do not tolerate more aggressive resurfacing.

They are not appropriate during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in clients with known fish/seafood allergy where the manufacturer specifies caution, or where there is active infection or significant bleeding-disorder risk.

What to expect

After a consultation and topical anaesthetic, we deliver the polynucleotide gel via small bolus or linear threading injections at the targeted area. Periorbital treatment takes around 20 minutes; full-face slightly longer. Small swelling at injection points is normal and settles within hours. Bruising is more likely around the eyes — usually faint, but worth planning around social events.

Results timeline

Most clients notice improved hydration and quieter skin within 1–2 weeks of the first session. Density, tone and texture improvements develop over the course and continue for several weeks after the third session. We assess results 4–6 weeks after session three.

Maintenance

Maintenance is typically a single session every 6–9 months. Many clients alternate polynucleotides with Profhilo as part of an ongoing skin-quality programme, and we plan that sequence carefully rather than stacking treatments without rationale.