If you work in aesthetics, you’ve probably noticed that PN, PDRN and polynucleotides seem to be everywhere.
But what do these terms actually mean?
Are PN and PDRN the same thing? Is one better than the other? Does a product have to say “PDRN” on the front of the box to contain it? And, perhaps more importantly for practitioners, how do you choose between the many polynucleotide and PDRN skin boosters now available?
The answer isn’t quite as simple as social media sometimes makes it sound.
At Fountain of Youth Aesthetic Boutique, we stock a wide range of professional PDRN and polynucleotide products, from dedicated PN/PDRN formulations to multi-active skin boosters, recombinant human collagen combinations, eye products, exosomes and microneedling solutions.
In this guide, we’ll explain the terminology, look at the differences between PN and PDRN, and most importantly, explain why you might choose one formulation over another for different clients and treatment goals.
What Are Polynucleotides?
Let’s start with the broadest term.
Polynucleotides, usually abbreviated to PN, are chains made from multiple nucleotide units.
In aesthetics, the term is generally used to describe purified DNA-derived polynucleotide materials used within regenerative skin treatments.
They’ve become popular because rather than simply adding temporary hydration or volume, polynucleotide-based treatments are used with the aim of supporting the condition and regenerative processes of the skin itself.
This makes them particularly interesting for concerns including:
- Fine lines
- Reduced elasticity
- Poor skin quality
- Dehydrated skin
- Crepey skin
- Photo-ageing
- Scarring
- Under-eye rejuvenation
- Mature skin
- General skin regeneration
However, “polynucleotide” is actually a broad description.
That’s where PDRN comes in.
What Is PDRN?
PDRN stands for Polydeoxyribonucleotide.
PDRN is also made from chains of deoxyribonucleotides – essentially DNA fragments – but it is generally associated with shorter or lower-molecular-weight DNA chains than those typically described as PN.
So, in very simplified terms:
PN = generally longer DNA-derived polynucleotide chains
PDRN = generally shorter DNA-derived chains/fragments
However, this is where things become slightly messy.
The aesthetic industry does not use the terminology completely consistently.
You’ll see products described as:
- Polynucleotides
- PN
- PDRN
- Salmon DNA
- Sodium DNA
- Hydrolysed DNA
- PN/PDRN
And sometimes these terms are used somewhat interchangeably.
That is why practitioners should look beyond the marketing name on the box and examine the actual formulation and ingredient profile.
Is PDRN a Polynucleotide?
Broadly speaking, yes.
PDRN belongs to the wider family of DNA-derived polynucleotide materials.
The easiest way to understand it is:
Polynucleotides = the broad family
PN and PDRN = different types/forms within that wider DNA-derived category
The scientific terminology is still evolving, and even published research acknowledges that PN and PDRN have historically been used inconsistently.
More recent scientific literature tends to distinguish them according to factors including molecular weight and chain length, with PN generally representing longer chains and PDRN shorter DNA fragments.
For practitioners, however, the most useful takeaway is this:
Don’t assume every product containing polynucleotides is the same.
Concentration, molecular structure and the additional ingredients surrounding those polynucleotides can dramatically change the type of treatment you’re creating.
PN vs PDRN – What’s the Difference in Skin Treatments?
Both PN and PDRN are associated with regenerative aesthetics, but their different molecular characteristics may influence how they behave within a formulation.
PN is generally associated with longer nucleotide chains and greater structural/scaffold characteristics, while PDRN consists of relatively shorter DNA-derived fragments.
PDRN has also been studied for mechanisms involving adenosine A2A receptor activity and nucleotide salvage pathways, which are associated with tissue repair and cellular regeneration.
PN formulations are often discussed more broadly in relation to:
- Extracellular matrix support
- Fibroblast activity
- Skin elasticity
- Hydration
- Skin quality
- Collagen support
But in practice, the distinction isn’t simply:
PN does this. PDRN does that.
Professional products frequently combine different forms of nucleotides with hyaluronic acid, peptides, collagen, NAD+, NMN, vitamins, antioxidants or biostimulatory ingredients.
That wider formulation often matters just as much as whether the front of the box says PN or PDRN.
Derma 2.0 PN & PDRN – When You Want Both
One of the clearest examples is Derma 2.0 PN & PDRN Solution.
Rather than forcing practitioners to choose one nucleotide source, Derma 2.0 combines several.
The formulation contains 45mg of combined nucleotides/polynucleotides per 5ml vial, including:
Sodium DNA – PN
Hydrolysed RNA – PN
Hydrolysed DNA – PDRN
It then combines these with:
- Non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid
- Trehalose
- Allantoin
This is why we see PN & PDRN as one of the more interesting choices for practitioners wanting a focused regenerative nucleotide treatment rather than simply a general anti-ageing cocktail.
Who might PN & PDRN suit?
Think:
- Fine lines
- Reduced elasticity
- Ageing skin
- Poor skin quality
- Dehydration
- Under-eye rejuvenation
- Neck and décolleté
- Clients specifically wanting a PN/PDRN-led treatment
But this brings us to an important point.
It isn’t the only Derma 2.0 product containing this type of technology.
Derma 2.0 BIO Contains Polynucleotides/PDRN Too
This is something that is easily overlooked.
Derma 2.0 BIO isn’t marketed simply as a “PDRN treatment”, because PDRN/polynucleotides form only one part of a much larger biorevitalising formulation.
BIO contains a substantial 22mg/ml polynucleotide complex – 110mg per 5ml vial alongside three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid.
But BIO doesn’t stop there.
It also combines its nucleotide content with:
- Vitamins A, B, C and E
- Amino acids
- Peptides
- Antioxidants
- DMAE
- Argireline®
- Multi-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid
So when somebody asks:
“Should I use BIO or a polynucleotide?”
The question isn’t quite right.
BIO already contains polynucleotides/PDRN-based regenerative ingredients.
The real decision is whether you want a focused PN/PDRN formulation or a much broader multi-active biorevitalisation cocktail that also contains a high level of polynucleotides.
Derma 2.0 BIO vs PN & PDRN
A simple way to think about it is:
BIO
Choose when you want broad-spectrum rejuvenation – hydration, peptides, vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, DMAE, Argireline and polynucleotides together.
PN & PDRN
Choose when you want the treatment to be more specifically focused around nucleotide-driven regenerative skin support.
Neither is automatically “better”.
They are simply different tools.
NADskin – PN Plus NAD+, NMN and Antioxidant Support
NADskin takes the concept in another direction again.
Its formulation combines:
NAD+ + NMN + PN + Hyaluronic Acid + Glutathione + Niacinamide
This makes NADskin particularly interesting when you’re looking beyond simple hydration or one-dimensional anti-ageing.
Rather than being solely a PN product, the formulation combines nucleotide-based ingredients with compounds associated with cellular metabolism, antioxidant support, brightening and overall skin quality.
We particularly like this type of formulation for:
- Dull or tired-looking skin
- General visible ageing
- Poor skin quality
- Uneven-looking tone
- Clients wanting an advanced regenerative programme
- Skin affected by lifestyle or environmental ageing
This is also why comparing products purely by asking “Which has the most PN?” isn’t necessarily helpful.
You’re treating the whole formulation.
Collagenex – PN Plus Recombinant Human Collagen
Collagenex recombinant human collagen offers another completely different approach.
Instead of using PN as the only regenerative focus, Collagenex combines:
Recombinant Human Collagen Type I & III + Hyaluronic Acid + Polynucleotides
That makes it particularly attractive when the dominant concern is visible collagen depletion.
Think:
- Mature skin
- Crepey-looking skin
- Loss of firmness
- Thinning-looking skin
- Reduced elasticity
- More established ageing
For a 28-year-old with dull, dehydrated skin, BIO or NADskin may make more sense.
For a 58-year-old with visibly collagen-depleted skin, Collagenex provides an entirely different rationale.
Again:
same broad regenerative category – very different treatment objective.
Sosum PLLA + PN – When You Want PN Plus Collagen Biostimulation
Sosum PLLA + PN pushes the concept further again.
It combines:
50mg PLA + 10mg PN + Hyaluronic Acid-based hydration carrier
This gives practitioners both a polynucleotide component and a progressive collagen-stimulating PLA component.
Rather than positioning it as a conventional hydration-focused skin booster, it makes more sense to view Sosum PLA/PN as a hybrid regenerative and biostimulatory treatment.
This may appeal particularly where the client is concerned with:
- Skin laxity
- Loss of firmness
- Reduced elasticity
- Enlarged pores
- Poor texture
- More established ageing
- Progressive collagen support
So again, “PN” tells you only part of the story.
What is the PN combined with?
That is often the more important question.
PN-PLUS-REGLORY – A Dedicated Polynucleotide Skin Booster
PN-PLUS-REGLORY provides another dedicated PN option within the range.
For practitioners looking specifically for a polynucleotide-led skin booster, this sits closer to the traditional PN treatment category rather than a large multi-active cocktail.
This type of product may be particularly useful where the aim is:
- General rejuvenation
- Fine lines
- Skin texture
- Hydration
- Elasticity
- Progressive skin quality improvement
Again, the decision comes back to the client’s dominant concern and the formulation you actually want to deliver.
Reglory Eyes Black – Polynucleotides for the Under-Eye Area
The under-eye area deserves its own consideration.
Reglory Eyes Black is designed specifically around under-eye rejuvenation rather than being a full-face product that happens to contain PN.
This becomes useful when the primary concern is:
- Crepey under-eye skin
- Fine lines
- Poor under-eye skin quality
- Tired-looking eyes
- Dark circles or general periocular rejuvenation depending on client suitability
Product selection is especially important around the eye because simply choosing the product with the highest concentration of active ingredients isn’t necessarily the best approach.
The anatomy, skin thickness, client’s tendency towards fluid retention and the specific concern should all influence your decision.
Dermaren Lumi Eyes – Another Eye-Focused Option
Dermaren Lumi Eyes provides another targeted under-eye option within FYAB’s current PDRN category.
This gives practitioners a choice rather than treating every under-eye client identically.
One client may primarily present with thin, crepey skin, another with dullness, another with fine lines, and another with multiple concerns.
The product should follow the consultation.
Not the trend.
Dermaren Lumi 10.0 – Full-Face Regenerative Skin Support
Dermaren Lumi 10.0 offers another full-face option within the regenerative skin booster category.
Again, this is useful because practitioners can choose between:
- Focused PN/PDRN formulations
- Multi-active regenerative cocktails
- Full-face skin boosters
- Eye-specific products
- Collagen-based products
- Biostimulatory combinations
There is no reason every client needs exactly the same polynucleotide.
Medisco PDRN – A PDRN-Focused Microneedling and Mesotherapy Option
Medisco PDRN is much more explicit about what it is.
The formulation combines:
PDRN + Sodium Hyaluronate + Glutathione + Niacinamide + Adenosine
This makes it particularly useful for practitioners wanting a PDRN-focused treatment while still gaining additional hydration, antioxidant and brightening support.
It may be considered for clients concerned with:
- Visible ageing
- Fine lines
- Dehydration
- Dullness
- Uneven-looking tone
- Skin regeneration
- General rejuvenation
It is also formulated for professional microneedling and mesotherapy protocols, making it an accessible way to incorporate PDRN into a wider treatment menu.
Stayve Salmon DNA – PDRN for Microneedling
Stayve Booster Salmon DNA is particularly interesting for clinics offering microneedling.
Its formulation centres around PDRN/Salmon DNA, combined with:
- Seven peptides
- Hyaluronic acid
- Niacinamide
- Allantoin
- Algae extracts
- 24K gold powder
It was developed for Microneedling Therapy System (MTS) treatments.
This makes it a good example of another important point:
PDRN doesn’t automatically mean injectable skin booster.
PDRN and polynucleotide ingredients now appear within a wide variety of professional formulations and delivery systems.
Medisco Skin Booster Starter Kit – A Multi-Concern Introduction
The Medisco Skin Booster Starter Kit takes a slightly different approach.
Rather than giving you one product for every client, it combines multiple professional microneedling options including:
- Hyaluronic Acid
- AC BHA
- PDRN EXO
That means practitioners can start tailoring treatments according to the client’s skin rather than offering the same serum repeatedly.
It can make particular sense for clinics wanting to introduce professional skin boosters or microneedling cocktails without immediately stocking a large number of individual boxes.
Derma 2.0 REBUILD Exosomes – Why Is an Exosome Product in the PDRN Category?
You’ll also find Derma 2.0 REBUILD Exosomes within our regenerative/PDRN collection.
This highlights an important distinction.
Not every product within a regenerative skin category is simply a standalone PDRN product.
Exosome formulations represent another approach to professional regenerative skincare and may sit alongside PDRN and PN treatments because practitioners comparing regenerative options are often looking at these technologies together.
Rather than thinking:
Exosomes vs PN – which one wins?
It is more useful to think:
What pathway and treatment objective am I trying to target?
Medisco Hyaluronic Acid Skinbooster – Sometimes Hydration Is Enough
The Medisco Hyaluronic Acid Skinbooster is another useful reminder not to over-treat.
Not every client asking about “skin boosters” necessarily needs PDRN.
If dehydration is genuinely the primary concern, a straightforward hyaluronic acid-based treatment may be entirely appropriate.
A younger client wanting plumper, hydrated, glowing skin doesn’t automatically need the most complex regenerative formulation in the clinic.
Sometimes the right answer is simply:
hydrate the skin.
Medisco Skin Glow Mask – Supporting the Wider Treatment Protocol
Medisco Skin Glow Mask also appears within the wider category.
This isn’t something we’d position as equivalent to a concentrated PN or PDRN skin booster.
Instead, it sits within the broader skin rejuvenation and treatment-support ecosystem.
That’s another reason practitioners shouldn’t interpret an ecommerce category as saying every product inside it has exactly the same mechanism or concentration of PDRN.
Some products are the main regenerative treatment.
Others complement the wider professional protocol.
So Which PN or PDRN Product Should I Choose?
There isn’t one universally “best polynucleotide”.
The better question is:
What does this client need beyond the PN or PDRN itself?
| Client / Treatment Goal | Product We Would Consider |
|---|---|
| Focused PN + PDRN treatment | Derma 2.0 PN & PDRN |
| Broad multi-active rejuvenation + high PN/PDRN content | Derma 2.0 BIO |
| NAD+/NMN + PN regenerative programme | NADskin |
| Mature, collagen-depleted skin | Collagenex |
| PN + progressive collagen stimulation | Sosum PLLA + PN |
| Dedicated PN skin booster | PN-PLUS-REGLORY |
| Under-eye PN treatment | Reglory Eyes Black |
| Alternative under-eye regenerative treatment | Dermaren Lumi Eyes |
| Full-face regenerative skin booster | Dermaren Lumi 10.0 |
| PDRN + brightening/hydration support | Medisco PDRN |
| PDRN microneedling treatment | Stayve Salmon DNA |
| Introductory multi-treatment microneedling range | Medisco Skin Booster Starter Kit |
| Alternative regenerative technology | Derma 2.0 REBUILD Exosomes |
| Primarily dehydrated skin | Medisco Hyaluronic Acid Skinbooster |
| Supporting skin-treatment protocol | Medisco Skin Glow Mask |
This is why professional consultation remains so important.
Is More PDRN Always Better?
No.
This is one of the biggest mistakes that can happen when a particular ingredient becomes fashionable.
Practitioners start comparing products purely by asking:
“How many milligrams does it contain?”
Concentration matters, but formulation matters too.
Consider these examples:
Derma 2.0 BIO combines a very high level of polynucleotides with HA, peptides, vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, DMAE and Argireline.
Collagenex combines PN with recombinant human collagen Types I and III.
NADskin combines PN with NAD+, NMN, glutathione and niacinamide.
Sosum PLA/PN combines PN with a collagen-stimulating PLA component.
Medisco PDRN combines PDRN with HA, glutathione, niacinamide and adenosine.
They’re not trying to be the same product.
So comparing them on PN concentration alone misses much of the reason the formulations exist.
What Is Salmon DNA?
Another phrase clients and practitioners increasingly encounter is “salmon DNA.”
This generally refers to purified DNA-derived nucleotide material sourced from salmonid species.
Many PN and PDRN formulations use DNA originally derived from salmon or trout.
However, “salmon DNA” is often a consumer-friendly marketing term rather than a precise technical description of molecular weight, chain length or concentration.
If you’re comparing professional products, look for more useful information such as:
- PN or PDRN type
- Concentration
- Molecular form where available
- Supporting ingredients
- Intended treatment area
- Delivery method
- Manufacturer protocol
That tells you considerably more than simply seeing “salmon DNA” on an advert.
Are Polynucleotides Just for Mature Skin?
Definitely not.
Although PN and PDRN are heavily associated with anti-ageing, regenerative treatments can have a much broader role.
A younger client may be concerned about:
- Dehydration
- Poor texture
- Acne scarring
- Dullness
- Under-eye quality
- Early preventative skin ageing
While an older client may present with:
- Collagen loss
- Crepey skin
- Laxity
- Deeper lines
- Photo-ageing
- Reduced elasticity
Those two clients may both benefit from regenerative ingredients, but that doesn’t mean they require the same product.
For example:
Younger, dehydrated, dull client → BIO or NADskin
Focused regeneration → PN & PDRN
Mature collagen-depleted skin → Collagenex
Laxity requiring progressive biostimulation → Sosum PLA/PN
Under-eye concern → Reglory Eyes Black or Dermaren Lumi Eyes depending on assessment
Microneedling client → Medisco PDRN or Stayve Salmon DNA may be considered
Again:
Treat the skin, not simply the age.
PN vs PDRN vs Exosomes – Are They the Same?
No.
Polynucleotides and PDRN are DNA-derived nucleotide materials.
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles involved in cell-to-cell signalling.
They sit within the wider regenerative-aesthetics conversation, but they aren’t interchangeable technologies.
That’s why a product such as Derma 2.0 REBUILD can sit alongside PN/PDRN treatments within a professional clinic without replacing them.
Different mechanisms give practitioners different tools.
Can You Alternate PN and PDRN Treatments?
Potentially, yes – provided the products and professional protocols being used are appropriate.
There is no reason every appointment within a skin rejuvenation programme has to use exactly the same formulation.
For example, depending on the client and the individual products being used, a practitioner may build a progressive programme around different objectives:
PN & PDRN → BIO → PN & PDRN
or
NADskin → Collagenex → NADskin → Collagenex
or
BIO → Collagenex → BIO
This allows treatment plans to evolve as the skin changes.
The objective isn’t to use as many different ingredients as possible.
It’s to understand why each ingredient is there.
PN vs PDRN: The Simple Answer
If all of the terminology has become confusing, remember this:
Polynucleotide is the broad term used for chains of nucleotides.
PN in modern aesthetics generally refers to longer-chain DNA-derived polynucleotides.
PDRN – Polydeoxyribonucleotide – generally refers to shorter DNA-derived nucleotide chains or fragments.
Both belong within the same wider regenerative family, and the terminology has historically been used inconsistently across scientific literature and commercial aesthetic products.
That means the most important thing for practitioners isn’t simply whether the box says PN or PDRN.
Look at:
the actual ingredients, concentration, supporting actives, treatment area and the client’s skin.
The Formulation Matters More Than the Buzzword
PN and PDRN are exciting ingredients, but they shouldn’t become another aesthetic buzzword where one fashionable ingredient is treated as the answer to every skin concern.
A product containing PDRN can be excellent.
A product containing PN can be excellent.
A product containing both PN and PDRN can be excellent.
And a product combining those ingredients with collagen, NAD+, NMN, peptides, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants or biostimulatory ingredients may be more appropriate for a particular client.
That’s why FYAB stocks multiple options rather than declaring one universal “best polynucleotide”.
The question isn’t:
“Which PN is best?”
It’s:
“Which formulation is best for this client’s skin?”
Shop Professional PN & PDRN Products
Explore our full range of professional PN, PDRN and regenerative skin products at Fountain of Youth Aesthetic Boutique.
Our current range includes Derma 2.0 PN & PDRN, Derma 2.0 BIO, NADskin, Collagenex, Reglory, Dermaren, Medisco, Stayve and other advanced professional regenerative formulations, giving practitioners the flexibility to select treatments according to skin quality, age, concern and treatment objective.
We also stock advanced hybrid PN products including Sosum PLLA + PN, combining polynucleotides with progressive collagen biostimulation.
Because regenerative aesthetics shouldn’t be about following the latest ingredient trend.
It should be about understanding what you’re putting into the skin – and why.
Professional information only. Treatment selection, application method and treatment frequency should follow manufacturer guidance and be appropriate to the practitioner’s training, qualifications and scope of practice.