Are you fed up with lax, lined or dull skin? Enter polynucleotides, the latest revolutionary injectable treatment taking the aesthetics world by storm. Polynucleotides are injectable skin biostimulators that act on a cellular level to restore texture, hydration and strength of dull, lax and wrinkled skin. Although new to the aesthetic field, polynucleotides have been used for medical applications since the 1980s, with hundreds of research studies proving their safety and effectiveness in skin remodelling.
But what is so special about polynucleotides? Polynucleotides fall into the realms of regenerative medicine, “the process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function by stimulating the body’s own repair mechanisms to functionally heal previously irreparable damage to tissues or organs”. Polynucleotides therefore have the unique ability to harness your body’s own repair mechanisms to reverse the signs of skin ageing.
Why is skin health so important?
It’s not just about aesthetics—your skin plays a crucial role in your overall health and well-being. Your skin is the largest organ in the body and the first line of defence against environmental hazards, from UV radiation to pollutants, that can cause serious health issues. Proper skincare treatments help to strengthen this barrier, keeping your body safe from harmful agents, and reducing the risk of skin diseases and infection. Investing time and effort into skin care and appropriate treatments can be a profoundly empowering experience. Whether it’s following a daily skincare routine or seeking professional treatments, each step you take is an act of self-care that builds self-esteem and contributes to the maintenance of a healthy, youthful complexion.
Understanding Polynucleotides skin regenerative capacity
Before diving into the treatment applications of polynucleotide injections, let's understand what polynucleotides actually are! Polynucleotides are fragments of purified DNA extracted from fish, that have been engineered into an injectable liquid, which mimics human DNA.
When DNA is cleaned and purified, it can stimulate your body to produce more fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen and elastin. These key proteins nourish the skin and improve texture and elasticity. This has the benefits of diminishing wrinkles and making the skin look younger and firmer. Polynucleotides have a great impact on collagen and elastane production in the skin, boosting collagen levels by up to 47% in just 23 days.
Polynucleotides are fragments of natural DNA that protect your skin by fighting off harmful molecules called OH hydroxyl radicals (free radicals). Levels of these harmful molecules can increase because of stress or from damage to your cells by external factors like UV rays from the sun. Polynucleotides therefore minimise the ageing effects of UV radiation as well as other environmental stressors.
Polynucleotides not only make your skin look healthier, they also thicken the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis. Thickening of the skin is beneficial for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, for maintaining moisture and for shielding you from environmental damage. It also helps to disguise tissue oedema (puffiness), especially in the delicate under-eye region. Polynucleotides have been shown to increase the thickness of the epidermis by up to 52% in the same 23-day period.
Polynucleotides have the additional benefits of stimulating the production of hyaluronic acid, to improve skin hydration, and inhibiting excessive melanogenesis, the production of skin pigment, leading to targeted reduction in hyperpigmentation.
Due to their plethora of positive effects, polynucleotides have powerful regenerative effects on the skin, reversing the signs of ageing to create a youthful, hydrated complexion.
Reduction in wrinkles and skin laxity after 2 sessions of Plinest polynucleotides.
Image courtesy of Dr Ioannis Liakas at Vie Aesthetics
Benefits of Polynucleotides
Polynucleotides can be used to improve:
Ageing skin
Deep lines and wrinkles
Loose and sagging skin
Dehydrated, dull skin
Puffy of hollow under eyes with improvement in dark circles
Hyperpigmentation
Acne
Scarring
Stretch marks
Rosacea
Alopecia/hair loss
It is not only your face that shows the signs of ageing. Other areas of the body commonly reveal our true age, due to the thinness of the skin and their constant exposure to the sun. These areas include the neck, decolletage, hands, knees and arms. The great thing about polynucleotides is their ability to be used to improve skin quality in almost any region of the body. Their ability to thicken the epidermis enhances the skin’s natural barrier and reduces the appearance of fine lines and sun damage in these delicate areas.
The skin around the eyes is particularly delicate and prone to ageing. Polynucleotides can be used to rejuvenate this area resulting in decreased appearance of under-eye bags, crow’s feet and dark circles. Their hydrating properties moisturise the thin skin around the eyes, promoting a fresh look rather than the tired look often associated with ageing.
If you are looking to diminish wrinkles, enhance skin elasticity, firmness and hydration, polynucleotides are the best option for you. Their ability to combat oxidative stress results in a brighter and more youthful complexion.
Polynucleotides Vs hyaluronic acid-based skin boosters
Both polynucleotides and hyaluronic acid-based skin boosters work wonders when it comes to enhancing skin quality. However, they differ in their mechanisms of action, range of effects and areas of use. Polynucleotides work at a cellular level by affecting DNA expression. They upregulate fibroblast production, as well as activity, which significantly increases collagen and elastane production, leading to increased skin firmness and elasticity. Crucially, unlike hyaluronic acid-based skin boosters, they are safe for use in the delicate eye area, where they have a variety of beneficial effects, as described above.
Hyaluronic acid-based skin boosters hydrate and remodel the skin primarily through hyaluronic acid, without directly influencing DNA or fibroblast numbers. They temporarily increase collagen and elastane production, leading to less sustained improvements in skin moisture and strength, and less significant remodelling of the skin.
Studies have proven that polynucleotides promote not only increased synthesis of collagen, but also better organisation of collagen fibres compared with hyaluronic-acid based skin boosters. The result is superior and more sustained results. For those looking for a quick improvement in skin hydration, Plinest Newest contains a powerful combination of polynucleotides and hyaluronic acid, to give the more rapid, but temporary, benefits of hyaluronic acid skin boosters, along with the more substantial and sustained effects of polynucleotides.
Improvement in skin laxity and wrinkles in the delicate under eye region with 4 sessions of Plinest eye polynucleotides.
Image courtesy of Kate Monteith Ross
Polynucleotides- Process & Treatment
The first step in any treatment is the initial consultation, during which appropriacy for treatment will be determined and product choice made. Dr Horlick is proud to use Plinest polynucleotides from DermaFocus, “The Home of Polynucleotides’. Plinest have a range of polynucleotide products to suit different skin complaints and body regions. Dr Horlick will use her extensive knowledge and expertise to devise a bespoke treatment plan using the most appropriate product choice.
To ensure comfort throughout the procedure, the polynucleotide treatment starts with the application of a numbing cream. The polynucleotide solution is then carefully injected into the treatment areas once the skin is numbed.
Following the treatment, it is normal to experience some slight swelling, redness, bruising (may be present, depending on the area, the individual and the technique of product distribution) and warmth. These side effects resolve on their own in a matter of hours/days depending on the strength of the product.
A course of three initial treatments is recommended for optimal results, every two-four weeks. Maintenance sessions are then recommended every 6 months to help in sustaining the rejuvenating effects and maintaining the skin’s improved quality and appearance.
Polynucleotides- Expected Results & Duration
You can expect to see results from polynucleotide treatment as early as three weeks after your initial treatment and your results will continue to improve for months after.
To enhance overall facial rejuvenation, these treatments can be effectively combined with other procedures like anti-wrinkles injections, dermal fillers, LED light therapy and medical-grade topical skincare products. A combined, holistic approach is recommended for optimum results.
Polynucleotides- Risks & Contraindications
Throughout their decades of use, polynucleotides have been proven to be a safe and effective treatment modality. No serious side effects of polynucleotides have been identified and the minor initial side effects associated with the treatment, such as swelling and bruising at the injection site, have been shown to be short-lasting.
The only contraindications to polynucleotide treatment are pregnancy, breastfeeding and active cancer treatment. It is also recommended to avoid injecting any product into areas of active skin inflammation. The theoretical risk of allergic reaction in those with fish allergy, necessitates a patch test prior to treatment, but the product has thus far been found to be safe in this cohort.
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