Fishing for Results? Why Polynucleotides Are Just a Red Herring
- Alison Mary
- Feb 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 4
Polynucleotides have taken the aesthetics world by storm, promising skin regeneration, hydration, and anti-aging benefits. But before you jump on the bandwagon (or into the deep end), let’s take a closer look at whether these so-called miracle injections are worth your hard-earned money—or if they’re just another overhyped fad with little scientific backing.
What Are Polynucleotides?
Polynucleotides are derived from salmon DNA and marketed as a way to rejuvenate the skin by stimulating fibroblast activity, increasing collagen production, and improving hydration.
Clinics, practitioners and influencers claim they offer skin renewal and anti-aging effects with minimal downtime.
Sounds great, right?
But if polynucleotides were truly revolutionary, we’d expect to see mountains of clinical studies and undeniable before-and-after results.
Instead, what we find is a fishy lack of scientific evidence...
Where’s the Proof? The Lack of Clinical Evidence
Unlike gold-standard collagen-stimulating treatments such as CO₂ fractional laser, RF microneedling, PDO threads, or biostimulatory fillers like Sculptra and Radiesse, polynucleotides don’t have a strong body of research proving their efficacy.
What we should be seeing if polynucleotides truly worked:
Multiple large-scale, peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled studies showing significant results.
Histological evidence proving an increase in fibroblast activity, collagen, and elastin production.
Reliable, dramatic before-and-after photos from independent practitioners, not just manufacturers with a vested interest.
But we don’t see this. Instead, we see vague claims about “skin hydration” and “biostimulation” without clear, measurable proof of actual long-term skin improvement.
The Placebo Effect & Marketing Hype
Let’s be real—many aesthetic treatments can make the skin look better temporarily due to inflammation and swelling post-injection, giving the illusion of improvement. But is it actually regenerating the skin at a deeper level? Or just creating short-lived plumpness like a glorified moisturiser?
Many aesthetic trends rely on clever marketing rather than science, and polynucleotides seem to be heading in the same direction as other overhyped treatments that failed to deliver in the long run (remember vampire facials?).
So Why Are Practitioners Pushing Polynucleotides?
If polynucleotides aren’t strongly backed by evidence, why are so many clinics offering them?
New trends = new revenue streams. Clinics want to stay ahead of the curve, and offering trendy treatments attracts clients.
The “celebrity effect.” Influencers and celebrities endorse treatments (often without verifying their effectiveness) because they’re paid to do so.
Profit margins. Polynucleotide injections are relatively easy to administer and carry a high markup for clinics.
It’s also worth noting that my perspective may be biased because I do not offer polynucleotide treatments in my clinic—but only because I haven’t seen enough credible scientific evidence to justify their use.
Many clinics that do offer polynucleotides tend to write about them in a more positive light, but that’s likely because they have a financial incentive to promote them, or have simply jumped the band wagon to make money and stay ahead if trends.
This is something to consider when reading glowing reviews or treatment descriptions online.
Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s effective—or worth your money.
What Actually Works? Proven Alternatives to Polynucleotides
If you want real, long-term improvements in skin quality, collagen production, and anti-aging effects, opt for treatments with solid scientific backing:
CO₂ Fractional Laser – Gold standard for resurfacing, deep wrinkle reduction, and collagen induction.
RF Microneedling – Clinically proven to stimulate fibroblast activity and tighten the skin.
PDO Threads – Not only lift but also induce natural collagen synthesis over time.
Biostimulatory Injectables (Sculptra, Hyperdilute Radiesse) – Well-documented collagen stimulators with FDA/MRSA approval.
What About Those Who Swear By Polynucleotides?
Some people may counter this argument by saying they’ve seen good before-and-after results. And while there will always be exceptions to the rule, these could be outliers or “freak results” rather than the norm. Individual responses to treatments can vary, but without solid, reproducible evidence each and every time (botox for example), it’s hard to separate real efficacy from placebo effects, post-treatment swelling, or coincidental improvements.
Final Verdict: Don’t Get Reeled In
Polynucleotides might sound impressive, but when you dig deeper, the science isn’t there to justify the hype—or the hefty price tag. Until we see clear, undeniable, and repeatable evidence that these injections work beyond short-term plumping, they remain a red herring in the world of skin rejuvenation.
Save your money for treatments that are proven to deliver real, visible, long-term results. Because when it comes to skincare, you deserve more than just another fishy fad.
If your goal is real collagen stimulation, these proven treatments are your best bet.
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