Polynucleotide boosters such as Rejuran and Plinest support skin that needs to recover. Medical Director Dr Sin Yong explains PN versus PDRN, the evidence, and who they suit.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓A polynucleotide (PN) skin booster is an injectable gel of purified fish DNA fragments placed in the dermis to support repair, hydration and thickness in thin, crepey or sensitised skin. PDRN is a related, shorter-fragment form. Rejuran and Plinest are PN boosters used at IN Eternity Clinic. Most courses are three or four sessions weeks apart. They improve skin quality, not volume.
A polynucleotide (PN) skin booster is an injectable gel made of long chains of DNA fragments, purified from fish such as salmon or trout, placed in small amounts in the dermis. It is used to support skin repair, hydration and thickness in skin that is thin, crepey, sensitised or slow to recover, and around the eyes where skin is thinnest. It does not add volume or change the shape of the face.
“Salmon DNA” is the popular name, and it causes some worry. The material is a purified mixture of DNA fragments; it does not enter your cells’ genetic material or change your own DNA. The fragments are thought to act as signals in the tissue: laboratory and wound-healing studies of the shorter fragments (PDRN) show effects on inflammation and repair through adenosine A2A receptors, and the longer PN chains also act as a hydrating, viscous scaffold in the dermis.
At IN Eternity Clinic the polynucleotide boosters used are Rejuran and Plinest, chosen after assessment. The background science is covered in more depth in PDRN explained.
| PN (polynucleotides) | PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Purified fish DNA | Purified fish DNA |
| Chain length | Long chains | Shorter fragments |
| Physical form | A viscous gel that stays in the dermis for longer | A thinner liquid |
| Main proposed action | Hydrating scaffold plus repair signalling | Repair and anti-inflammatory signalling via adenosine A2A receptors |
| Examples in aesthetics | Rejuran (labelled PN); Plinest (PN-HPT) | Products sold as “PDRN boosters”; PDRN also appears in skincare |
| Topical versions | Serums exist; they act mainly on the surface | Serums exist; they act mainly on the surface |
People searching for a “PDRN skin booster” usually mean the injectable salmon DNA treatments, which in Singapore are mostly PN products such as Rejuran. The distinction matters less than two practical questions: is the product registered with the Health Sciences Authority for injection, and is it right for your skin? Serums containing PN or PDRN can feel pleasant, but a molecule of that size does not travel through intact skin into the dermis in any useful amount.
| Rejuran | Plinest | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker and origin | Korean; polynucleotides from salmon DNA | Italian (Mastelli); polynucleotides from fish DNA, PN-HPT |
| Versions | Healer (overall skin quality), HB (with hyaluronic acid and a local anaesthetic), S (thicker, for depressed acne scars), Eye (thinner, for under-eye skin) | Plinest (face, neck), Plinest Eye (periorbital) |
| Typical aims | Texture, thin or tired skin, acne-scar texture, under-eyes | Thin, crepey or sensitised skin; under-eyes; neck |
| Course | Usually a few sessions weeks apart, then maintenance | Usually three or four sessions a few weeks apart, then maintenance |
| Fish allergy | Specific assessment needed | Specific assessment needed |
Neither is simply better. The choice depends on the area, skin thickness, sensitivity, whether acne scarring is part of the plan, and how your skin has responded before. A detailed side-by-side is in Plinest vs Rejuran.
The evidence for polynucleotides is growing but still modest in size. A 2021 Italian consensus report on highly purified polynucleotides (PN-HPT) described their use for skin quality, the periorbital area and scars, based on the experience of practitioners and the available studies. A 2024 review of polynucleotides in aesthetic medicine summarised current practice and perceived effectiveness, and called for larger controlled trials.
Controlled data exist for specific uses. A prospective, randomised exploratory study compared PN-HPT with cross-linked hyaluronic acid for moderate to severe nasolabial folds and reported improvement with both. A small case series of long-chain polynucleotide injections for skin rejuvenation described improvements in texture and fine lines, and recorded short-lived side effects. For PDRN, a pharmacology review sets out the laboratory and clinical data on tissue repair, much of it from wound healing rather than aesthetics.
The honest summary: polynucleotides have a plausible mechanism, a reasonable safety record and supportive but limited aesthetic trials. They are one tool for skin quality, chosen for skin that needs to recover, not as a cure-all.
| Booster type | What it mainly does | Suits | Not for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polynucleotide (Rejuran, Plinest) | Supports repair, hydration and thickness | Thin, crepey, sensitised or post-acne skin; under-eyes | Volume loss; people with fish allergy without specific assessment |
| Hyaluronic acid booster | Draws water into the dermis | Dehydrated, dull skin; fine surface lines | Very thin skin needing repair |
| Profhilo | Spreads hyaluronic acid widely; supports laxity and hydration | Early laxity with dryness | Precise contouring |
| PDLLA (Juvelook) | Prompts collagen over months | Texture, pores, shallow scars | Immediate change |
| Needle-free booster | Hydrating ampoule carried in by ultrasound delivery | People who prefer no injections | Results equal to injected boosters |
See skin boosters in Singapore for how each family is used, and skin booster types compared for the evidence behind each.
“A polynucleotide booster does not fill anything. It is chosen for skin that needs to recover, not for a face that needs volume.”
Rejuran aftercare is set out day by day in Rejuran downtime and aftercare; the same principles apply to Plinest.
General clinical observations used at consultation; they describe what is checked, not any individual result.
Bumps and small bruises are expected. Contact the clinic promptly if you notice any of the following.
The clinic can be reached on WhatsApp at +65 8815 3008 during opening hours.
Cost depends on the product and version, the amount needed for the area, the number of sessions in the course and the maintenance interval. A course for the full face differs from a course for the under-eyes alone, and combining a polynucleotide with another booster changes the plan. What drives the cost of Rejuran specifically is explained in Rejuran price in Singapore. The plan and its cost are set out after assessment; the consultation fee at IN Eternity Clinic is S$120, waived with any medical treatment.
A PN skin booster is an injectable gel of polynucleotides, long chains of purified fish DNA fragments, placed in the dermis to support repair, hydration and thickness. Rejuran and Plinest are examples. It improves skin quality rather than adding volume.
They are related. Both come from purified fish DNA, but PDRN is shorter fragments in a thinner liquid, while PN is longer chains that form a gel and stay in the dermis longer. Rejuran is labelled as PN.
The material is highly purified DNA fragments and does not change your own DNA. Registered polynucleotide products have a reasonable safety record, with mostly short-lived side effects such as bumps, redness and bruising. People with fish allergy need specific assessment first.
Most courses are three or four sessions spaced a few weeks apart, followed by maintenance every few months. The exact number depends on your skin, the product and your goals, and is reviewed during the course.
Many people notice the skin feels more hydrated and resilient within a few weeks of the first session. Texture and quality improve gradually over the course and are judged against baseline photographs after it.
They can help thin, crepey under-eye skin. Rejuran Eye and Plinest Eye are made for the area. They do not fill hollows or remove pigment, so the cause of dark circles is assessed first.
No. Topical PN or PDRN serums may feel pleasant, but molecules of that size do not pass through intact skin into the dermis in a useful amount. Injected boosters place the product where it acts.
Neither is better in general. Both are polynucleotide boosters with overlapping uses. The choice depends on the area, skin thickness and sensitivity, scarring and your previous response, and is made at assessment.
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008. The consultation fee is waived with any medical treatment.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.