In brief
- PDRN is a substance extracted from the DNA of salmon. That's why it's also called salmon DNA. In skincare it is used as a signal for repair.
- It gets into your skin in three ways: with an injection from a doctor, with microneedling in a salon, or as a serum you apply at home.
- At Moons in Enschede we work it in with the Dermapen, together with exosomes and hyaluronic acid. We don't do injections.
- You do a course of four to six sessions, three to four weeks apart. Your skin is red for one to two days.
- Microneedling with PDRN costs €99.00 per session. With LED therapy added it's €119.00.
Written by Nilay, owner and beauty therapist at Moons BeautyUpdated on
What is PDRN, and why is it called salmon DNA?
PDRN is short for polydeoxyribonucleotide. It consists of short pieces of DNA, extracted from salmon. It usually comes from the milt, the fish's sperm. It is purified until only the pieces of DNA remain. That's where the nickname salmon DNA comes from.
The idea behind it is simple. In the skin the pieces of DNA act as building material and as a signal that there is something to repair. The skin then gets to work.
You'll come across other names for it too. Polynucleotides, often shortened to PN, are longer chains of the same material. In adverts PDRN, polynucleotides and salmon DNA are used interchangeably. For you as a client it makes little difference: it's always DNA from fish that prompts the skin to repair.
What does PDRN do for your skin?
PDRN is used to support the skin's repair. It stimulates the production of collagen and helps damaged tissue renew itself. That's why people choose it for small scars, for fine lines and for skin that bounces back less than it used to.
What you see is not a different face. Skin that responds well looks more even, fuller and calmer after a course. Lines become softer and small scars shallower. It doesn't add volume or fill a wrinkle. That's the job of a filler, and a doctor injects those.
Research into PDRN in the skin is still young. The first studies are encouraging, but small. So count on a gradual improvement over a course, and be wary of photos that show completely different skin after one session.
Injection, microneedling or serum, what is the difference?
It's always the same substance. The difference lies in how deep it gets and who is allowed to do the treatment.
| Topic | Injection | Microneedling | Serum or cream |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it gets into your skin | With a needle, in small deposits under the skin | Through fine channels that the pen makes in the skin | You apply it to your skin |
| Who does it | A doctor in a clinic. You'll also find it under the name skin booster | A specialist in a salon who works with microneedling | You yourself, at home |
| Recovery | Sometimes small bumps or bruises at the injection sites, which fade by themselves | Red for one to two days, like after a day in the sun | Nothing |
| What it does best | Targeting one zone, such as under the eyes | The whole skin in one go, with the stimulus of the needles on top | Daily care and moisture |
| At Moons | We don't do it | €99.00, with LED therapy €119.00 | We don't sell it |
With microneedling two things work together. The needles themselves already set your skin's repair in motion, and through the channels the cocktail gets deeper than when you apply it. How the technique works is in microneedling: all you need to know.
And what are exosomes, then?
Exosomes are tiny vesicles that cells release to send each other messages. Such a vesicle contains proteins and bits of genetic material, among other things. Cells nearby take up the vesicle and respond to what's inside it.
In skincare exosomes are used to help the skin renew itself. Where they come from differs per product: from plants, or from a culture in the lab. Feel free to ask if you'd like to know.
So PDRN and exosomes are two different things that are often used together. At Moons they are in the same cocktail, with hyaluronic acid as the third active ingredient. The hyaluronic acid holds on to moisture, so your skin feels full and soft in the days after the treatment.
What is salmon DNA chosen for?
These are the four reasons we hear most often.
Small scars from spots
Dents and unevenness that remain once the spots have gone. PDRN is aimed at repairing tissue, and that's what a scar needs. More on this under acne scars.
Fine lines
Lines that soften as the skin around them becomes firmer. See also fine lines and wrinkles.
Skin that bounces back less
Many clients choose it from around 35, when their skin noticeably recovers more slowly. You can read why under loss of firmness.
A dull, tired complexion
After a course the skin looks more even and fresher. If dullness is your only concern, a lighter treatment is often enough. Have a look at dull skin.
Salmon DNA under your eyes.
Many people look up salmon DNA for the skin under their eyes: bags, dark circles and creases. The treatment in question is almost always an injection with polynucleotides. The skin there is thin, and a doctor injects the substance in a few spots just under the surface.
We don't do that kind of injection. If that's what you're looking for, see a doctor who has experience with it, and ask for photos of their own work and about the aftercare.
With microneedling we treat your face as a whole. The skin around your eyes benefits from a firmer, calmer face, but a dark circle that comes from your bone structure or your small blood vessels won't go away with it. Tell us at your appointment what bothers you most, and you'll hear what you can expect. What you can do about it yourself is in eye bags and dark circles.
How quickly do you recover, and when do you see results?
This applies to microneedling with PDRN, the way we do it.
The first day
Red and warm
Your skin is red, roughly like after a sunny day. With LED therapy afterwards it subsides faster.
Days two and three
The redness fades
Your skin can feel dry or flake slightly. Make-up is allowed from the third day, but ideally you leave it off for two weeks.
The first weeks
Fuller and smoother
Thanks to the hyaluronic acid your skin soon feels full and soft. The real work, the production of collagen, is still going on then.
After the course
The result builds up
After four to six sessions you see what it does for your skin. The collagen keeps building after that, so the full result comes after about three months.
What does a treatment with salmon DNA cost?
The price depends on the form. An injection from a doctor costs more than microneedling in a salon. These are our prices, as they currently appear on our price list.
| Topic | Price at Moons | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Microneedling with PDRN, hyaluronic acid and exosomes | €99.00 | 50 minutes |
| The same treatment with LED therapy | €119.00 | 75 minutes |
| Adding your neck | €35.00 extra | 20 minutes extra |
A course is four to six treatments, three to four weeks apart. You pay per session and decide each time yourself whether to continue. All prices are on the prices page.
Who is it for, and when is it better not to?
A good idea if
- You have small scars from spots and your skin is calm now
- You see lines appearing and your skin bounces back less
- You've already done a course with hyaluronic acid or collagen and want to go a step further
- You're willing to commit to a course and sun protection
Check with us first
- A fish allergy. PDRN comes from salmon, so always mention it beforehand
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Then we don't do microneedling
- Active, inflamed spots. They need to settle first
- Just been in the sun or on a sunbed. Then we wait about two weeks
- Acids or retinol at home. Stop using them a few days beforehand
- You don't eat or use anything of animal origin. PDRN is an animal product. Then ask for a variant without PDRN
Salmon DNA or Profhilo, what is the difference?
Profhilo is an injection with hyaluronic acid, given by a doctor. It is meant to hydrate the skin from within and make it firmer. Polynucleotides are a different substance with a different purpose: prompting repair. Clinics offer them side by side, and sometimes one after the other.
Which of the two suits you is a question for the doctor who injects them. We do neither. What we do is microneedling with a cocktail that contains both PDRN and hyaluronic acid. That is a different treatment: without deposits under the skin, and with the stimulus of the needles on top.
If you're torn between the salon and the clinic, think about what you're looking for. For the skin as a whole, with a short recovery and a lower price per session, microneedling gets you a long way. For one zone you want to target, such as under the eyes, the doctor is the right place.
Is a PDRN serum for home use worth it?
At the chemist and in Korean online shops you'll find serums, creams and masks with PDRN. They are popular and feel pleasant. They hydrate well, partly thanks to the hyaluronic acid and glycerine they usually also contain.
Whether the PDRN itself gets deep enough from the surface to do the same as in a treatment has not been shown. The pieces of DNA are large for a substance that has to get through the skin. So see a serum like that as good skincare alongside a treatment.
At home, something else does more for your result: sun protection every day, gentle cleansing and a cream that suits your skin. How to build that up is in the order of your skincare.
The downsides to know beforehand.
It's a course
After one session you see little. The result comes from four to six treatments, and you only see the full effect after about three months.
You're red for a while
For one to two days, and in the days after your skin can be dry. So don't plan it right before a party.
It isn't always possible
With a fish allergy, during pregnancy and on inflamed or freshly sunburnt skin we skip it.
The evidence is still young
Expectations are high and the studies still small. That's why a good practitioner won't promise you a miracle.
Does your skin stay red, warm or swollen?
If the redness gets worse instead of better after a few days, if you get bumps, itching or a fever, or if your face swells up, call your GP. That applies after microneedling and after an injection too. Also let the salon or clinic where you were treated know.
Frequently asked questions about PDRN and salmon DNA
What is PDRN?
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide: short pieces of DNA extracted from salmon. In skincare it is used as a signal for repair. It stimulates the production of collagen and helps damaged tissue renew itself.
Is salmon DNA the same as PDRN?
Yes. Salmon DNA is the nickname, PDRN the abbreviation of the substance. Polynucleotides are longer chains of the same material. In adverts the three names are used interchangeably.
What does PDRN do for your skin?
It supports the skin's repair. After a course, skin that responds well looks more even, fuller and calmer, with softer lines and shallower small scars. It doesn't add volume.
What are exosomes?
Exosomes are tiny vesicles that cells use to send each other messages. In skincare they are used to help the skin renew itself. They are often combined with PDRN, but they are two different things.
Does a salmon DNA treatment hurt?
With microneedling a numbing cream goes on your skin first and soaks in for twenty minutes. After that you mainly feel vibration and a slightly scratchy sensation. An injection from a doctor feels different. Ask them how they numb the skin.
How often should you have a salmon DNA treatment?
At Moons you do microneedling with PDRN as a course of four to six sessions, three to four weeks apart. After that comes maintenance. How often that is depends on your skin and on what you came for.
What does a salmon DNA treatment cost?
At Moons in Enschede microneedling with PDRN, hyaluronic acid and exosomes costs €99.00 per session. With LED therapy added it's €119.00. An injection from a doctor costs more. The price of that differs per clinic.
When do you see results from PDRN?
In the first weeks your skin feels fuller and smoother. The collagen builds up more slowly. After four to six treatments you see what it does for your skin, and the full result comes after about three months.
How long are you red after microneedling with PDRN?
Usually one to two days, roughly like after a day in the sun. With LED therapy afterwards it often settles faster.
Can salmon DNA be used under the eyes?
Under the eyes it's almost always about an injection with polynucleotides, and a doctor gives those. At Moons we don't do them. We do microneedling on your face as a whole.
Which is better, salmon DNA or Profhilo?
They are two different injections. Profhilo is hyaluronic acid and is meant to hydrate and firm. Salmon DNA is meant to prompt repair. Which one suits you is something to discuss with the doctor who injects them. At Moons we don't do injections.
Do you also do salmon DNA injections?
No. We work PDRN in with microneedling. We don't do injections, skin boosters, botox or fillers. For those you go to a doctor.
Is a PDRN serum worth it?
As skincare, yes: serums like that hydrate well. That the PDRN itself does the same from the surface as in a treatment has not been shown. See it as a complement to a treatment.
Can you have PDRN if you're allergic to fish?
Always mention a fish allergy beforehand. PDRN comes from salmon. We then choose a different variant together, for example with hyaluronic acid or niacinamide.
Can you have a salmon DNA treatment when you're pregnant?
During pregnancy and for as long as you're breastfeeding, we don't do microneedling. The mild nourishing treatments are fine. What you can do at home is in skincare during your pregnancy.
Is PDRN vegan?
No. PDRN is extracted from salmon, so it's an animal product. If you'd rather avoid that, there are also microneedling variants that don't contain it.
Can you combine PDRN with retinol?
Stop retinol and acids a few days before microneedling, and only start again once your skin is calm. PDRN doesn't replace retinol. They are two different active ingredients, each doing something for your skin in its own way.
What are the downsides of salmon DNA?
It's a course, so after one session you see little. After microneedling you're red for one to two days. It isn't possible with a fish allergy or during pregnancy. And the research is still young, so nobody can promise you a fixed result.
From reading to doing
What we do with this in the salon
Microneedling with PDRN
Salmon DNA, exosomes and hyaluronic acid, with price and steps.
Microneedling
The technique, the recovery and all five variants side by side.
LED therapy
The light that makes the redness after microneedling subside faster.
Acne scars
Pits left by spots, and what a course can do for them.
