From salmon sperm facials to serums, PDRN skincare is beauty’s new fixation

From Cleopatra’s milk baths to golden-infused creams and snail mucin serums, the quest for eternal youth has never lacked imagination. In 2025, the gaze is far less romantic: salmon sperm. We’ve moved our search for the elixir du jour to extracting DNA fragments from fish, helped along by celebrity-led headlines, with salmon sperm facials being reportedly favoured by Jennifer Aniston, Kim and Khloe Kardashian. The molecule is now leaving clinics and turning up in jars and droppers for everyday routines, ushering in a new wave of PDRN skincare. You may have already scrolled past it: pink packaging styled for social media or steely metal vials that signal their clinical pedigree.

The molecule behind the buzz has a name as long as its chain: polydeoxyribonucleotide, or PDRN. It belongs to a wider family called polynucleotides, which includes DNA and RNA chains of varying lengths. Within this family, PDRN refers to the shorter DNA fragments. “In beauty treatments, they’re most often taken from salmon DNA”, explains dermatologist Dr Manjot Marwah, director of LHR Clinics and founder of EnagenBio. “The idea is that these pieces can ‘talk’ to our skin cells, helping them renew, repair, and look younger.”

How it works is relatively straightforward. “Salmon DNA is very similar to human DNA. It does not trigger allergies. And it has powerful healing effects on the skin,” says Dr Niketa Sonavane, dermatologist, founder of Ambrosia Aesthetics. Sonanave adds that when injected, these fragments stimulate repair, boost hydration, ease inflammation, and gradually give the skin a smoother, more luminous finish. Dr Marwah notes that it not only revives collagen and elastin but also supports the healing of damaged skin.

In dermatology clinics, PDRN has earned a reputation as a skin booster for issues ranging from pigmentation and sun damage to fine lines and acne scars. Dr Sonavane has seen it work particularly well for skin that is thin, dull or crepey, and often recommends it to brides with a skin-first approach to their wedding day beauty look.

In its most potent form, PDRN is usually delivered through injectables. “It’s the most active part of the polynucleotide treatment,” says Dr Sonavane, “helping improve blood supply and reduce oxidative stress.” Dr Marwah has seen it making its way into topical PDRN skincare products, although absorption remains shallower compared to dermapens and injectables in a clinic.