Right now, social media is flooded with videos of influencers raving that PDRN is the next big thing in skincare, claiming that it miraculously heals and rejuvenates the skin like no other product. It seems that every skincare brand is now joining this trend, launching new PDRN products, whether that be serums, face masks, ampoules, or even injections. But did you know that these pretty pink products derive PDRN from salmon sperm, and how can salmon DNA repair skin?
Polydeoxyribonucleotides (PDRN) are a purified and heavily filtered mixture of DNA fragments usually derived from salmon sperm. Specifically, PDRN is composed of the basic units of DNA — deoxyribonucleotides (a nitrogenous base, a deoxyribose sugar, and a phosphate group). This combination is a powerful ingredient that can address a variety of skincare concerns, from compromised skin barrier to wrinkles to post-procedure recovery (Ku et al,. 2026).
PDRN helps repair skin because of its composition of nucleotides and nucleosides. For injured and damaged skin to divide and rebuild tissue, it needs a combination of nutrients, oxygen, energy, and molecular materials. Cells can use the nucleotides and nucleosides that are released when PDRN breaks down to make DNA more efficiently through the salvage pathway (the salvage pathway is used for skin cells to recycle these molecules). This is useful because, before they can divide, dividing cells need nucleotides to copy their DNA. Building DNA efficiently is the key to tissue renewal in damaged skin (Ku et al, 2026).
PDRN is also able to combat specific skin health concerns. The signalling of the A2A receptor reduces inflammatory molecules like TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, and PDRN activates this receptor. This means that PDRN calms the skin when inflamed, facilitating the transition from injury into repair. PDRN is also thought to support fibroblasts, which are the skin cells that produce parts of the extracellular matrix, including collagen. PDRN provides nucleotide materials and encourages fibroblast activity, helping to restore elasticity, strength, and structure to the skin. Additionally, PDRN may increase VEGF. VEGF is a signalling protein that assists in new capillary formation. Improved blood supply means more blood cells to deliver oxygen and nutrients to healing skin tissue, which is necessary for the repair of wounds (Squadrito et al., 2017).
It is important to note that the delivery matters when it comes to PDRN treatments. Although store-bought products are common and more affordable, skincare treatments such as microneedling and injections are vastly more effective, as PDRN molecules are usually too large to easily pass through the skin’s outer barrier. These treatments are able to reach the deeper dermal cells that play roles in repair and collagen production, rather than just staying on the surface, providing temporary hydration (Kitnick, 2026). Despite this, salmon sperm PDRN treatments remain one of the few social media trends that carry real impact and scientific backing.
References
Kitnick, S. (2026, September 30). Salmon DNA (PDRN) is now everywhere in skincare. But does it actually work? The Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/live-well/body/skin/story/salmon-dna-pdrn-skincare-does-it-work
Ku, J.-K., Yun, P.-Y., & Jeong, Y. K. (2026). Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) in dentistry: Narrative review for mechanisms and emerging clinical applications. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 23(2), 209–220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-025-00776-z
Squadrito, F., Bitto, A., Irrera, N., Pizzino, G., Pallio, G., Minutoli, L., & Altavilla, D. (2017). Pharmacological activity and clinical use of PDRN. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 8, 224. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2017.00224
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