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Do Polynucleotide Injections Work?

Polynucleotide injections may modestly improve skin quality, eye-area lines and acne scars, but trials are small and short, and the mechanism is unproven.

By Vireon Medical Editorial TeamFirst published Evidence checked through

Short answer

Possibly, but the evidence is thin. Small trials suggest polynucleotide injections may modestly improve skin quality, fine lines around the eyes and some acne scars, while other studies found little or no benefit, and large, long-term randomised trials are lacking. Whether they help depends on the concern being treated and the specific product, and how they work has not been scientifically established.

Key points

  • Polynucleotides are chains of DNA building blocks, usually purified from salmon or trout.
  • A 2024 review called the evidence promising but limited.
  • Most studies are small, short and use different methods.
  • No serious adverse events were reported in the studies reviewed, but long-term safety is unknown.
  • Treatment schedules come largely from expert consensus rather than trials.

What polynucleotides are

Polynucleotides are long chains of nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Products used in aesthetic medicine are purified from fish reproductive tissue, typically chum salmon or trout.1 A related substance, polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), comes from salmon sperm and has shorter chains.1

They are injected into the skin, often marketed as a “skin booster” or “biostimulator” (a product meant to prompt the skin’s own repair). Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, they are not intended to add volume.

Types of study and how Vireon labels evidence Two columns. The left column is a ladder of study designs from generally stronger at the top to generally weaker at the bottom: systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials; randomised controlled trials; cohort and case-control studies; case series and case reports; and expert opinion or reasoning from first principles. Beneath it, a note says that manufacturer claims are not counted as evidence that a treatment works or is safe. The right column lists the six evidence labels Vireon uses, with their meanings: Strong, consistent high-quality evidence or authoritative guidance supports the claim; Moderate, useful evidence with meaningful limitations; Limited, evidence that is small, non-randomised or otherwise restricted; Mixed, reasonable studies or guidance disagree; Insufficient, the claim has not been established; Uncertain incidence, a risk is plausible or has been reported but how often it happens cannot be reliably calculated. A note across the bottom says that quality within a level also matters, for example a poorly designed randomised trial may rank no higher than a cohort study. Type of study Vireon evidence labels Generally stronger to weaker Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) Cohort and case-control studies Case series and case reports Expert opinion and reasoning from first principles Manufacturer claims not counted as proof it works or is safe Strong Moderate Limited Mixed Insufficient Uncertain incidence Consistent high-quality evidence or authoritative guidance Useful evidence, with meaningful limitations Small, non-randomised or otherwise restricted evidence Reasonable studies or guidance do not agree The claim has not been established A risk is plausible or reported, but how often it happens is unclear Quality within a level also matters. A poorly designed RCT may rank no higher than a cohort study.
Study design is a rough guide to how much weight a finding can bear, but quality within each level matters too; Vireon’s labels describe the overall evidence behind a specific claim.

How they are thought to work

The proposed explanation is that polynucleotides stimulate a receptor on cells (the adenosine A2A receptor) and supply building blocks for repair, encouraging new blood vessel growth and tissue regeneration. Most of this reasoning comes from research on PDRN rather than on polynucleotides themselves.1

The 2024 review was candid that there is no objective data on how polynucleotides act in the skin and that the assumed similarity to PDRN has not been scientifically demonstrated.1 A plausible mechanism is not the same as proof of benefit.

What the evidence shows

A 2024 review of polynucleotides in aesthetic medicine found reported uses for skin texture, wrinkles around the eyes, acne scars, surgical scars and stretch marks. Some studies showed gains in elasticity and hydration; others found little or no benefit. The authors concluded that the evidence is promising but limited.1

UseEvidenceWhat it rests on
Fine lines around the eyesLimitedA few small randomised studies, some comparing against hyaluronic acid.1
Atrophic acne scarsLimitedOne small placebo-controlled pilot trial.2
General skin qualityLimitedSmall studies with short follow-up.1
Stretch marks, facial rednessInsufficientCase series and a physician survey.1
Evidence for polynucleotide injections by use. Labels reflect the overall quality of published evidence.

The acne scar trial illustrates both the promise and the gaps. Twenty women with moderate to severe atrophic scars were randomised, double-blind, to polynucleotides or saline. Only the polynucleotide group improved significantly from baseline at 1 and 3 months, but follow-up stopped at 3 months, and the authors called for larger, longer studies.2 Even summaries of this research need care: the 2024 review describes this trial as including 30 people, whereas the published trial reports 20.12

The review identified the main weaknesses across the field: few large, high-quality randomised trials, heavy reliance on observational and pilot studies, short follow-up, and wide variation in products, protocols and outcome measures.1 Overall, the evidence that polynucleotides improve the skin is Limited.

Sessions and safety

Treatment is usually given as a course of sessions. Recommended doses, volumes, numbers of sessions and intervals for areas such as the face, around the eyes, neck, hands and scalp come from a consensus of eight experienced practitioners, not from comparative trials, and agreement on the initial facial course reached only 60%.3

No serious adverse events were reported in the studies the 2024 review covered; reported effects were mild redness and swelling that settled within days.1 Because studies were small and short, rarer or later problems may not yet have been detected, so the frequency of uncommon complications is an Uncertain incidence. As with any injection, the NHS advises that practitioners should be trained, experienced and insured, and that it is reasonable to ask which product will be used.4

Common questions

Are polynucleotides better than hyaluronic acid skin boosters?

There is no reliable evidence that either is clearly better; the few head-to-head studies are small.1 See what skin boosters are.

How long do results last?

This is not known with confidence, because most studies followed people for only a few months.1

Can polynucleotides treat dark circles under the eyes?

They have been studied for dark circles, but the evidence is too limited to say they work reliably.1

Do they help acne scars?

One small placebo-controlled trial suggested short-term improvement.2 Better-studied options are covered in treatments that can improve acne scars.

Bottom line

Polynucleotide injections have some encouraging early results, but the research base is small, short-term and inconsistent, and their mechanism is unproven. Anyone considering them is weighing a plausible, probably modest effect against uncertainty about how well and how long it works.

Sources

  1. Lee KWA, Chan KWL, Lee A, Lee CH, Wan J, Wong S, Yi KH. Polynucleotides in Aesthetic Medicine: A Review of Current Practices and Perceived Effectiveness. International Journal of Molecular Sciences; 2024;25(15):8224. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158224
  2. Araco A, Araco F. Preliminary Prospective and Randomized Study of Highly Purified Polynucleotide vs Placebo in Treatment of Moderate to Severe Acne Scars. Aesthetic Surgery Journal; 2021;41(7):NP866–NP874. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjab125
  3. Cavallini M, Bartoletti E, Maioli L, et al. Consensus report on the use of PN-HPT (polynucleotides highly purified technology) in aesthetic medicine. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology; 2021;20(3):922–928. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13679
  4. NHS. Before you have a cosmetic procedure. NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cosmetic-procedures/advice/before-you-have-a-cosmetic-procedure/. Accessed 5 November 2026.

Article history

  • — First published.