Pleaseupgrade your browser to improve your experience.
What if I told you that there was a treatment that not only gave you dewy, plump, smooth, hydrated skin but also provided your skin with the perfect conditions for it to rebuild itself, from the inside out?
Let me introduce the next generation of skin boosters/bio-remodellers/injectable magic…POLYNUCLEOTIDES
I know. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. It sounds like something you might have been taught in GCSE Science? Right? Well, you probably were!
A polynucleotide is a chain (poly = many) of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA and RNA…remember A, T, C, G…and U?).
Polynucleotides, also called PN or PDRN are an injectable, skin-boosting, regenerative treatment that has gained popularity recently. They offer a huge range of immediate, and longer term, skin-boosting benefits.
They hydrate and plump, are a powerful antioxidant AND can ramp up fibroblast activity. They provide fibroblasts (the cells that create the scaffolding and stretch in your skin) with all the ingredients they need to boost the synthesis of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid - all the things that make our skin healthy and youthful. Not only are polynucleotides great for boosting the appearance of skin, they help tissue repair and have anti-inflammatory properties, so can also help with wound healing.
Cheryl Cain, The Good Skin Guru says
Polynucleotides have been utilised in the medical field since 1986 but are relatively new in the aesthetics field. Polynucleotides or PN’s are an exciting advancement in regenerative medicine, a field focused on repairing or replacing damaged or diseased cells and tissues to restore normal cellular function.
Their application in medical aesthetics leads to exceptionally natural yet impressive results, reversing signs of ageing and cellular damage from extrinsic factors.
The aesthetic industry is changing and patients are looking for ways to enhance their own natural features without the use of dermal fillers and really focus on skin health so polynucleotides are a really exciting advancement.
Similar to hyaluronic acid skin boosters like Profhilo and Seventy-Hyal, polynucleotides create dewy looking skin, add a soft volume and deeply hydrate almost immediately.
But there’s more!!
In addition to this, polynucleotides work to boost fibroblast production, inducing tissue repair processes, reducing inflammatory processes, regulating melanogenesis and promoting hydration in the skin. Polynucleotides stimulate regeneration of the skin at a cellular level. This can take some time to be seen visually in terms of improved texture, minimised pores and pigmentation, because your skin is working on improving itself.
Depending on the degree of ageing your skin has, your diet, lifestyle and your ability to create quality tissue when stimulated, your skin quality will improve gradually as the tissues regenerate. Most people notice a difference after 2-4 weeks, with optimum results expected from about 3 months after the course of treatment has been completed.
This treatment gives that initial glow and follows it up with longer term bio-remodelling. Win-Win!
Pretty much anywhere!
Polynucleotides can be used to treat both body and face, including necks, décolletage, the delicate eye area, back of hands, abdomen, thighs, knees, arms, stretch marks across the body.
Not only can polynucleotides enhance hydration, tissue elasticity and tightness and help rejuvenate the skin. They can also help with lumpy or sunken scars, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, melasma, rosacea, general signs of facial ageing, eyebrow and scalp hair loss.
If you’re an adult concerned with skin laxity, textural issues, pigmentation and other age-related skin concerns, the likelihood is that polynucleotides are a good treatment option to consider.
It’s probably easier to say who this treatment is NOT for:
Also, those with unrealistic expectations. it’s important to get your expectations in line with anticipated outcomes. This is not a one-and-done treatment. If your diet, skincare and lifestyle choices aren’t supporting the treatment, you may be disappointed with the outcome. Likewise, this is a non-surgical treatment, so don’t expect surgical results.
As with any other injectable treatment, avoid NSAIDS (unless prescribed), fish oils and alcohol prior to your appointment. Ensure you’ve had a drink and something to eat and remove any makeup.
It is important to understand that, whilst polynucleotides are not prescription only medicines, the anatomy of the face is complex, so it is advisable that you only allow healthcare professionals to carry out injectable treatments.
Consultation & Consent
Your practitioner will take your medical history, clearly highlight the realistic, expected result of the treatment and will also describe any potential side effects and risks. Take as long as you need, ask any questions you have and weigh up the benefits against the risks.
If you’re happy to proceed, you’ll sign and date your completed health and consent forms and the treatment will go ahead.
The Treatment
Your practitioner will remove any makeup from your face/area to be treated and use a sterile wipe/solution to prepare the area. They’ll then apply topical anaesthetic and allow this to take effect for about 20-30 minutes.
Following numbing, your practitioner may mark up the treatment area and begin to place the polynucleotides using a needle or cannula. You may feel a sharp scratch or stinging sensation, and as the product is injected it may smart! You'll likely have bumps that resemble bee stings at the injection sites and you may also have pin-pricks of blood following the treatment.
As the polynucleotide is absorbed over the next few hours, the bumps will reduce. Once your treatment is complete, you can carry on with your day as normal.
It is recommended that a course of treatments (usually 3 or more) is carried out 4-6 weeks apart for optimum results. Following this, maintenance treatments are advised. Your practitioner will be able to advise you of your personal individualised treatment plan.
As with all injectable treatments, make sure you:
Don’t:
Obviously, being an injectable treatment, there are potential risks and side effects which your practitioner will go through with you during your consultation.
During the treatment, you may experience discomfort or stinging. If you’re prone to cold sores, injections into or around the lip area could trigger a breakout.
Following treatment, you may have pinpricks of blood at the injection sites, bruising and/or localised swelling, redness and or tenderness. These typically disappear within a few days.
If you’re concerned about any side effects, get in touch with your practitioner as soon as you experience them. They will be best placed to provide you with appropriate aftercare and advice.
It's not cheap! Expect to pay from £300 per treatment.
And remember, it's not a one-and-done thing. Following a course of 3 or more treatments, to maintain the results, you will require treatment every 6 months or so. Your practitioner will be able to advise you of your personal individualised treatment plan.
So there you have it. Polynucleotides are a versatile, skin-boosting, regenerative treatment that can offer immediate and longer-term benefits to the skin. They hydrate, plump, provide anti-inflammatory properties, and can help wound healing. They stimulate the regeneration of the skin at a cellular level, and therefore, the tissue will improve gradually depending on the degree of aging. They can also be used to treat body and face, including the delicate eye area, and a number of other skin-related concerns.
Find yourself a skin pro who offers polynucleotide treatments near you on Glowday.
