{"id":2342,"date":"2026-07-13T21:33:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T13:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/13\/pdrn-explained-how-a-regenerative-treatment-became-a-skin-care-sensation\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T21:33:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T13:33:33","slug":"pdrn-explained-how-a-regenerative-treatment-became-a-skin-care-sensation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/13\/pdrn-explained-how-a-regenerative-treatment-became-a-skin-care-sensation\/","title":{"rendered":"PDRN Explained: How a Regenerative Treatment Became a Skin-Care Sensation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While salmon sperm, aka PDRN, sounds like pure clickbait, it\u2019s the ingredient dominating skin-care conversations right now, and the science behind it spans decades. <\/p>\n
Featured Experts<\/h2>\n
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Elaine Kung, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York<\/li>\n
Jenny Liu, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Minneapolis <\/li>\n
Seul-ong Ohk is a senior researcher on the Strategic Research Planning Team at the PharmaResearch R&D Center<\/li>\n
Tim Lee, PhD is chief scientific officer at Prollenium<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
1980s\u20131990s: Therapeutic Roots<\/h2>\n
While PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) seems like a modern K-beauty innovation, New York dermatologist Elaine Kung, MD says its therapeutic roots date back to the 1980s in Italy. \u201cResearchers originally explored PDRN for its profound regenerative capabilities in wound healing,\u201d she explains. In the 1990s, a Korean company called PharmaResearch began using PDRN as a pharma ingredient, focusing on wild salmon in a specific province of Korea. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cPharmaResearch pursued the localization of PDRN production technology using this source,\u201d says Seul-ong Ohk from the Strategic Research Planning Team at the PharmaResearch R&D Center. \u201cThe structure of salmon DNA is highly similar to that of human DNA, allowing it to function effectively in the body with a low risk of side effects. In particular, the salmon\u2019s reproductive cells are rich in nucleic acids that play an important role in supporting skin health.\u201d<\/p>\n
2009: Quality Control<\/h2>\n
After years of research, PharmaResearch developed its patented DOT\u2014DNA Optimizing Technology\u2014which Ohk says can process highly purified salmon-derived DNA into various forms (skin-care products, injectables and more) under strict quality control. \u201cWhat makes PDRN interesting is how it works on a cellular level,\u201d says Minneapolis dermatologist Jenny Liu, MD. \u201cIt helps activate specific receptors in the skin that reduce inflammation and promote healing, and it also provides building blocks that skin cells can use to repair themselves and regenerate.\u201d<\/p>\n
2014: Injectable Breakthrough<\/h2>\n
The leap from medical wound care to aesthetic medicine occurred in South Korea. \u201cCosmetic researchers realized that the exact mechanisms healing severe wounds could be harnessed to reverse signs of aging,\u201d says Dr. Kung. \u201cThis culminated in 2014 when PharmaResearch launched an injectable called Rejuran. By utilizing polynucleotides (PN), it revolutionized the \u2018skin booster\u2019 category and became a global phenomenon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohk explains that what is often referred to as \u201cinjectable PDRN\u201d is, in fact, a PN-based medical device, such as Rejuran and Rejuran HB Plus. \u201cPN is a high\u2013molecular weight material, and when injected into the skin, it can help improve skin texture by supporting hydration and providing physical support within the dermal layer,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Though these injectables are widely used in many parts of the world (Asia is the largest market by far), they are currently not yet FDA-approved in the United States. \u201cThe strongest data we have on salmon DNA is for its injectable forms,\u201d Dr. Liu says. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing meaningful results in terms of collagen production, healing, and even improvements in fine lines or pigmentation over time, which is why it\u2019s become popular in regenerative aesthetics.\u201d<\/p>\n
2017: Topical Takeover<\/h2>\n
PharmaResearch made its foray into topical products in 2017, launching its signature Rejuran Turnover Ampoule ($52) in Korea (it launched in the U.S. this past March). Ohk says Rejuran\u2019s topical products contain c-PDRN, which is manufactured in a lower molecular weight compared to PN. \u201cThis allows for relatively better skin absorption when applied topically,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
Rejuran sparked a worldwide trend, inspiring other brands to launch topical PDRN serums, creams, masks and more. \u201cThese products are much more limited because these DNA fragments are relatively large and don\u2019t penetrate skin as deeply,\u201d Dr. Liu says. \u201cThey can still help with hydration and barrier support, but they\u2019re not going to replicate the effects of in-office treatments. PDRN skin care is a promising category, but we need more standardized data, especially when it comes to long-term outcomes and optimal use.\u201d<\/p>\n
2024: Vegan PDRN<\/h2>\n
As the demand for sustainable, ethically sourced and vegan products surges, the skin-care space is innovating rapidly. \u201cBecause traditional PDRN is animal-derived, vegan brands are creating brilliant alternatives designed to bio-mimic the effects of salmon DNA,\u201d says Dr. Kung. \u201cThere\u2019s phyto PDRN\u2014DNA fragments from resilient plants, like Korean ginseng\u2014and also bio-fermented PDRN, or biotech PDRN. This is the bleeding edge of cosmetic chemistry. Using microbial fermentation\u2014often utilizing specific bacteria or microalgae\u2014labs are cultivating highly purified polynucleotides.\u201d However, while the clinical literature supporting salmon-derived PDRN is decades deep, Dr. Kung points out that data on these vegan alternatives is still emerging.<\/p>\n
2025 \u2013 2026: Enhanced Results<\/h2>\n
Similarly to how PRP (platelet-rich plasma) or exosomes can be applied after in-office treatments like microneedling and lasers, PDRN can also be used. In early 2025, a company called Prollenium introduced VAMP, a patent-pending, topical PDRN solution that is meant to be paired with microneedling to improve skin elasticity, hydration and radiance.<\/p>\n
This March, it launched VAMP Advanced, a next-gen version featuring five times more medical-grade, high-purity, 0.5-percent PDRN, along with amino acids, vitamins, minerals and hyaluronic acid. Dr. Tim Lee, chief scientific officer at Prollenium, says it can be used to complement and enhance the results of in-office facial treatments. \u201cThis approach isn\u2019t about immediate transformation, but rather gradual, progressive improvement,\u201d he explains. \u201cOptimal results are typically seen after at least three treatments administered monthly. Over time, patients notice better hydration, smoother texture, improved elasticity and an overall healthier skin appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
The Future: What\u2019s Next<\/h2>\n
Though getting FDA approval for PN injections in the U.S. may be a pipe dream, PDRN skin-care products are moving full steam ahead, and we\u2019ll be seeing a host of new formats, primarily stemming from K-beauty. \u201cPDRN is at the forefront of the future of regenerative aesthetics, which is moving beyond simply \u2018filling\u2019 wrinkles and toward skin repair that actually turns back the clock on its biological age,\u201d says Dr. Kung. From topicals to injectables and beyond, we are just scratching the surface of this trending ingredient and are excited to see what comes next.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While salmon sperm, aka PDRN, sounds like pure clickbai […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2343,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2342"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nichebeaty.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"rejuran\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/0vv8moc6\/newbeauty\/ce35a98af26747720363fda8b88ddb7c06737277-1000x1000.jpg?w=1200&auto=format&q=70\")
<\/figure>\n![\"vamp](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/0vv8moc6\/newbeauty\/cac9fa1f4c83e1bb38d24c2b504fb8eae42b9b88-666x1000.jpg?w=1200&auto=format&q=70\")
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