Do polynucleotides offer an effective solution for skin rejuvenation in esthetic medicine?

by Haroon Ahmad, MD 2025-03-17 00:00

PhysicianCosmetic

🔍 Key Finding

Polynucleotide (PN) injections show promising results in reducing wrinkles, improving skin texture, and enhancing elasticity, with moderate-to-high patient satisfaction and minimal side effects, though further high-quality research is needed.

🔬 Methodology Overview

Systematic review of three databases (Embase, Medline, and Cochrane) for studies published between January 2010 and January 2024
Nine studies (primarily from Korea and Italy) involving 219 patients receiving PN treatments were included
Quality assessed using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists
Studies varied in quality (low to moderate) with none achieving full scores in quality appraisal
Most studies had predominantly female participants with mean ages ranging from 33.9 to 55.71 years

📊 Evidence

Six studies showed wrinkle reduction after PN injections, with three demonstrating statistically significant improvements
Araco's study showed significant wrinkle reduction at 3 months (29.24±1.1) compared to baseline (33.14±1.33, p<0.05)
Kim et al. reported significant wrinkle reductions at 8, 10, and 18 weeks (p<0.001) versus baseline
Significant improvement in skin texture maintained up to 18 weeks post-treatment (p<0.001)
Lee et al. found the PN group had higher improvement rates in pore volume than HA group at 16 and 28 weeks
No severe adverse events reported across all studies

💡 Clinical Impact

PNs offer a natural, minimally invasive option for skin rejuvenation that may be superior to simple skin boosters that only provide temporary hydration. They appear to be a time-saving, less clinician-dependent, and safer alternative to other treatments like PRP/PRF or HA fillers, which can potentially lead to more severe complications including granulomas, long-lasting edema, skin necrosis, or vision loss.

🤔 Limitations

Limited number of studies (only nine included)
Small sample sizes in included studies (range 5-72 patients)
Heterogeneity in study design, methods, and outcome measures making synthesis challenging
Low to moderate quality of evidence with no studies achieving full quality scores
Exclusion of non-English studies may have missed relevant research

Consider incorporating PN treatments into your practice for patients seeking natural skin rejuvenation with minimal downtime and risk. They appear particularly effective for wrinkle reduction, improving skin texture and elasticity. However, standardized protocols are still needed, so closely monitor your results and adjust techniques based on patient response, particularly regarding injection technique and intervals between treatments.

Lampridou S, Bassett S, Cavallini M, Christopoulos G. The Effectiveness of Polynucleotides in Esthetic Medicine: A Systematic Review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2025;24:e16721. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.16721