Polynucleotide treatments have emerged as one of the most exciting developments in aesthetic medicine, offering a scientifically-backed approach to skin rejuvenation that works at a cellular level.
At our London clinic, we're frequently asked about these innovative treatments and how they differ from traditional dermal fillers and other injectables. Understanding what polynucleotides actually do to your skin can help you appreciate why they've become such a sought-after treatment option.
The Science Behind Polynucleotides
Polynucleotides are naturally occurring biological molecules made up of nucleotides, the fundamental building blocks of DNA and RNA. When used in aesthetic treatments, these purified polynucleotide chains are injected into the skin where they trigger a cascade of regenerative processes. Unlike fillers that simply add volume or botulinum toxin that relaxes muscles, polynucleotides work by stimulating your skin's own repair and renewal mechanisms.
The treatment harnesses your body's innate ability to heal and regenerate tissue. Once injected into the dermis, polynucleotides interact with your skin cells, encouraging them to function more efficiently and produce essential components that may have diminished with age or environmental damage. This approach represents a shift from merely addressing surface concerns to genuinely improving the underlying health and quality of your skin.
Stimulating Collagen and Elastin Production
One of the primary benefits of polynucleotides is their remarkable ability to stimulate fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. These structural proteins form the scaffolding of your skin, providing firmness, elasticity, and that youthful bounce that tends to diminish as we age. By activating fibroblast activity, polynucleotides encourage your skin to manufacture fresh collagen and elastin fibres.
This regenerative process doesn't happen overnight but develops progressively over weeks and months following treatment. The newly produced collagen helps to fill fine lines from within, improve skin texture, and restore a more youthful density to areas that have become thin or crepey. The enhanced elastin production simultaneously works to improve skin elasticity, helping your skin snap back more readily and resist the formation of new wrinkles.
Intense Hydration at a Cellular Level
Polynucleotides possess exceptional hydrating properties that extend far beyond surface moisturisation. These molecules have a natural affinity for water, attracting and binding moisture within the deeper layers of your skin. This deep hydration creates a plumping effect that softens fine lines and gives skin a dewy, refreshed appearance.
Unlike topical hydrators that primarily affect the skin's surface, the hydration provided by polynucleotides occurs at the dermal level where it can truly transform skin quality. This profound moisturisation improves the skin's barrier function, helping it retain moisture more effectively even between treatments. Patients often describe their skin feeling more supple and comfortable, with a noticeable reduction in that tight, dry sensation that can accompany ageing or dehydrated skin.
Powerful Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Beyond their regenerative and hydrating properties, polynucleotides offer significant antioxidant benefits. They help neutralise free radicals, those unstable molecules that damage skin cells and accelerate the ageing process. By providing antioxidant protection at a cellular level, polynucleotides help shield your skin from ongoing environmental damage caused by UV exposure, pollution, and other daily stressors.
The anti-inflammatory properties of polynucleotides are equally valuable. Chronic low-grade inflammation contributes significantly to skin ageing, breaking down collagen and elastin whilst promoting uneven texture and tone. Polynucleotides help calm this inflammatory response, creating an environment where skin cells can function optimally and repair themselves more effectively. This anti-inflammatory action is particularly beneficial for those with sensitive skin or conditions that create persistent redness or reactivity.
Improving Skin Texture and Tone
The cumulative effects of polynucleotide treatment result in remarkable improvements to overall skin texture and tone. Patients typically notice their skin becoming smoother and more refined, with a reduction in the appearance of enlarged pores and rough patches. The treatment addresses textural irregularities by promoting cellular turnover and supporting the skin's natural renewal processes.
Additionally, polynucleotides can help improve skin tone by supporting more even melanin distribution and reducing the appearance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Whilst they're not a targeted treatment for pigmentation concerns, the overall improvement in skin health and cellular function often contributes to a more balanced, radiant complexion.
Tissue Repair and Wound Healing
An often-overlooked benefit of polynucleotides is their ability to support tissue repair and accelerate wound healing. This property makes them particularly valuable for treating areas of skin that show signs of damage, whether from sun exposure, scarring, or the natural thinning that occurs with age. The treatment essentially gives your skin the biological resources it needs to repair itself more effectively.
This reparative quality is especially beneficial for delicate areas like the under-eyes, where skin is naturally thinner and more prone to showing signs of ageing. Polynucleotides can help strengthen and thicken this fragile skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, and that hollowed appearance that develops over time.
Long-Term Skin Quality Improvement
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of polynucleotide treatment is that it creates genuine, lasting improvements in skin quality rather than temporary cosmetic enhancement. Because the treatment stimulates your own skin's regenerative processes, the benefits continue to develop even after the initial product has been metabolised. Your skin doesn't simply return to its pre-treatment state once the polynucleotides have broken down; instead, it maintains many of the improvements achieved through the increased collagen, improved cellular function, and enhanced skin health.
This regenerative approach means that regular polynucleotide treatments can slow visible signs of ageing whilst actually improving the biological age of your skin. Rather than chasing individual concerns as they appear, you're investing in the fundamental health and resilience of your skin for the long term.
Who Benefits from Polynucleotide Treatment?
Polynucleotides offer benefits for a wide range of skin types and concerns. Those in their late twenties to early thirties might use them as a preventative measure, supporting their skin's natural functions before significant signs of ageing appear. Patients experiencing early signs of ageing appreciate how polynucleotides address multiple concerns simultaneously, from fine lines to loss of radiance.
More mature skin particularly benefits from the regenerative properties of polynucleotides, as they help restore some of the cellular functions that naturally decline with age. The treatment is also valuable for anyone whose skin shows signs of environmental damage or who simply wants to improve their overall skin quality and resilience.
Book Your Consultation Today
At Injectual, we incorporate polynucleotide treatments into comprehensive skincare plans tailored to each patient's unique needs and goals. If you're curious about whether polynucleotides could enhance your skin's health and appearance, we invite you to book a consultation at our London clinics where we can assess your skin and discuss how this innovative treatment might benefit you.
