Polynucleotides – The Unexpected Ingredient Making a Splash in Skin Rejuvenation
Polynucleotides became a social media sensation in 2024, but don’t be mistaken – this is no fleeting trend of a product. As we move further into 2025, it’s clear that polynucleotides represent a true breakthrough in the skincare and aesthetics industry.
Of course, many people’s first impression of polynucleotides – and one of the big reasons there is so much hype around them is their association with fish sperm. This slightly more unorthodox and magical component contains purified DNA extracted from fish. Why salmon or trout sperm? Interestingly, the DNA of salmon and trout sperm is surprisingly close to that of humans, in fact around 70%—there’s a pub quiz fact for you!
When you’ve got celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, and Sophie Habboo talking about it, you pay attention – but we don’t want you to follow blindly. We want you to know all there is to know about how polynucleotides and their skin transformation powers.
Read on to find out more.
Fish Sperm Facial or an Injectable Bio-Stimulator?
We prefer the latter term injectable bio-stimulator—it has a nicer ring to it, and we must remember these are medical treatment that should be administered by health care professionals only.
While, yes, in essence, polynucleotides start their life cycle as salmon or trout sperm, it’s far from that by the end of it. Polynucleotides are complex chains of nucleotides that form the building blocks of DNA and RNA.
Most of you will know that everything about us, from our hair colour and hairline to our blood type, metabolic rate, and food intolerances, is in our DNA. What’s more, almost every cell (except red blood cells) contains DNA.
It just so happens that DNA is also largely responsible for how our skin functions and rejuvenates. Welcome injectable bio-stimulators to save the day. Why? Well, ipso facto, if you inject a bio-stimulator into the skin, it will interact with the DNA in that cell and instruct it to stimulate repair (hence the name) cell rejuvenation.
How Polynucleotides Work
Not wanting to bore you with the science, we’ll keep it simple. The long chains of DNA work in three ways.
First, they’ll start stimulating fibroblast cells (fibroblasts secrete collagen and help maintain the structure of the skin’s framework) to make them multiply and boost their activity. The more active they are, the more collagen, and the more collagen you’re producing, the more hydrated, glowing, and youthful you look. Not to mention the fact you’ll notice improved skin elasticity and say adios to wrinkles.
Polynucleotides are also excellent antioxidants that ravenously feed on the free radicals, usually on a mission to cause cellular damage. Again, it’s that DNA cell rejuvenation property working.
Polynucleotides are also known for their wound-healing properties. You guessed it, it’s cellular rejuvenation at work again. Therefore they are great in reduce facial scarring often caused by those pesky pimples back in the day.
Essentially, the main function is to support the skin’s natural regeneration process by stimulating those all-important fibroblasts.
Hype or Hero?
Hero! And don’t let anyone tell you differently. We’ve seen some very promising results from polynucleotides, even in the (relatively) short time they’ve spent in the spotlight.
What we will say is that this treatment can only do so much. If you have advanced signs of ageing like deep-set wrinkles and skin that’s sagging (rather than simply losing some of its plumpness), then polynucleotides won’t be transformative on their own.
Would you still see some improvements? Absolutely. But you might not get the exact results you’re dreaming of. You could use polynucleotides alongside other treatments to reduce the advanced signs of ageing, but more on that further along.
What to Expect from The Treatment
So, what’s the treatment like?
Your Practitioner will use a fine needle primed with polynucleotides and inject it into the dermal layer of skin—the layer just underneath the surface. If you struggle with dark circles with loose skin and fine lines under your eyes the we have a specific polynucleotide eye treatment for you, but you can also have a full face and neck treatment, or even other areas of the body like the hands.
Most treatments take up to about 20 minutes so you can be in and out in no time.
Recovery and Results
It’s a relatively quick and painless procedure as we numb your skin beforehand, but, as with any injectables, you might feel a small amount of discomfort when the needle is inserted. Depending on how your skin reacts, you might notice some redness, swelling, and bruising for the first few days after your treatment. It’s more common for people to experience redness and swelling rather than bruising.
Polynucleotides take a few weeks to work, and the results can last for 6 months. But here’s the catch – one treatment won’t save the day. Typically, you will need a course of three treatments spread across 2-3 weeks to see the maximum results. After that, you could have a maintenance treatment every 4-6 months to keep those results. This only involves one treatment and that will ensure your skin continues to glow.
As a rough guide, here’s the polynucleotide results timeline:
- Week 1-2: Improved skin hydration and radiance
- Week 4-6: Collagen production increases and cell rejuvenation begins. Expect improved elasticity, reduced wrinkles, etc.
- Week 12: Expect to see the full results!
Note: That timeline is only if you have the initial course of three. You can never over-treat with polynucleotides and each treatment will only make your skin look ever better. The results are natural and long lasting as you produce your own collagen in the skin.
Treatments That Enhance the Benefits of Polynucleotides
Sometimes, as we mentioned, polynucleotides aren’t a one-hit wonder. There are some treatments we can recommend alongside polynucleotides that visibly reduce the signs of ageing:
- HIFU Non-Surgical Facelift
- Radio Frequency Skin Tightening
- Sculptra Facial Rejuvenation
- Anti wrinkle treatments and Fillers
Remember that your ideal treatment plan is one that is tailored to you, your skin, and your expectations. It depends on the signs of ageing you’re showing and how advanced they are! But if you’re looking for tighter, youthful, wrinkle-free (or as close to as possible) skin, then the treatments above can be your knight in shining armour.
So, polynucleotides. Are you in or out? We’re all the way in! It’s an excellent, affordable treatment that’s scientifically proven to work. Contact Look Lovely London today to book your consultation appointment! To make an appointment, please book online or call 020 3900 2756 and we can help devise a personalised treatment plan just for you.
