Polynucleotides vs PRP: Which Skin Treatment Suits You?

Polynucleotides and PRP both aim to repair and rejuvenate skin from within rather than add volume, but they come from different places. PRP is made from your own blood. Polynucleotides are purified DNA-derived fragments, injected as a ready-made product. For most people who want a predictable, standardised treatment for texture, fine lines, hydration and tired-looking skin, polynucleotides are the more straightforward choice, and that is the treatment we offer at The M-ethod Skin in London and Athens with a UK-trained doctor.

This guide explains what each treatment is, what the research says, how sessions and recovery compare, and what US patients should know before travelling for treatment.

TL;DR

• Polynucleotides are injected into the skin as a ready-to-use product, typically in a course of three sessions four weeks apart, and are used for hydration, texture and skin quality.
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is prepared from your own blood on the day, so the result depends on the kit, the spin and the technique used.
• Reported durability is around 6 to 12 months for polynucleotides and roughly 3 to 12 months for PRP, according to a 2026 review of skin booster modalities.
• In the US, PRP is used off-label for the face; a consultation with a doctor is the best way to match a treatment to your concern.

Table of Contents

• What each treatment is
• Side by side
• What the evidence shows
• How to choose
• Safety, recovery and US rules
• Questions to ask before you book
• Perspective
• Start with a consultation
• FAQ
• Sources

What each treatment is

Polynucleotides

Polynucleotides (PN) are chains of DNA-derived building blocks, usually purified from salmon. They are injected into the dermis, the living layer of skin under the surface. The idea is to support the skin’s own repair processes, calm inflammation and improve hydration, rather than to fill or contour. That is why they are often described as skin rejuvenation rather than filler.

A 2025 expert perspectives article in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology states that PNs are well tolerated and may be used to enhance skin hydration and rejuvenation. It also describes a typical protocol: a very fine 34G needle, tiny 0.02 to 0.04 mL deposits spaced 3 to 5 mm apart, and three sessions at four-week intervals.

If you want the full background, our guides on polynucleotide injections and the science behind them and on polynucleotides in skincare go further.

PRP

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. As the American Academy of Dermatology explains, blood is drawn, the platelets are separated in a centrifuge and the platelet-rich portion is reinjected into the face or scalp, sometimes alongside microneedling. Platelets release growth factors, which is why PRP is associated with the so-called vampire facial.

Because PRP is made fresh from your own blood, there is no off-the-shelf product. The kit, the spin settings and the platelet concentration all vary between clinics, and that variation matters when you compare results.

Side by side

Durability figures come from the 2026 skin booster review, which lists bruising, swelling and transient pain as the common events for both.

What the evidence shows

Polynucleotides

A 2025 systematic review of nine studies covering 219 patients found promising outcomes for polynucleotides in reducing wrinkles, improving skin texture and enhancing elasticity. Side effects were generally mild and transient, and patient satisfaction was moderate to high. No study reported severe adverse events.

A 2024 study of PN HPT in Asian skin used three intradermal injections at four-week intervals. It found statistically significant improvement in skin surface, firmness, pigmentation and radiance, no early or late adverse events, and benefits lasting up to six months.

A phase III trial of a polynucleotide filler against a hyaluronic acid filler for crow’s feet reported a 95.7% improvement ratio for polynucleotides at 12 weeks, against 94.3% for HA, and fewer local adverse events with polynucleotides (31.9% against 48.6%), as summarised in the skin booster review.

PRP

PRP has a longer research history, but its results depend heavily on how it is prepared. In a 2018 JAMA Dermatology trial of 27 participants, the PRP-treated cheek was rated significantly more improved than the saline cheek for texture and wrinkles at six months. A 2016 histologic study of 20 women found higher dermal collagen density 28 days after a single PRP treatment.

Not every trial agrees. A 2024 randomised trial of 18 women found no notable change in skin roughness after PRP or saline. Differences in preparation methods, platelet concentrations and injection protocols are one reason results are described as inconsistent, which is why a standardised product is attractive to many patients.

How to choose

The honest answer depends on your concern and what you want from the process.

Choose polynucleotides if you want:

• Better hydration, texture and overall skin quality, including delicate areas such as the under-eye and neck.
• A defined course with a predictable protocol, without a blood draw.
• A treatment that sits well alongside others, such as skin boosters or microneedling, in a planned programme.

Consider PRP if you are specifically interested in a treatment made from your own blood, or in scalp use. In that case you would discuss preparation and protocol with the doctor who will perform it.

Polynucleotides and Profhilo are often compared too. Profhilo is stabilised hyaluronic acid that hydrates and firms, while polynucleotides work on repair and skin quality, and the two can be planned together. Our guides on Profhilo injections and skin boosters explain how.

For pigmentation, acne marks or rosacea, injectables are only one part of the plan. A prescription routine (for example tretinoin or hydroquinone, where suitable) and daily sunscreen often do much of the work, and a doctor should decide what is right for your skin.

Safety, recovery and US rules

Recovery. After polynucleotides, a 2026 consensus document says local reactions such as bruising, redness and burning are expected and typically appear around twelve hours after injection. It recommends avoiding natural sunlight and sun lamps for 48 hours, and using soothing creams and ice packs. In the 2025 review, mild effects such as pain, swelling and itching usually resolved within a week.

After PRP, the 2018 JAMA Dermatology trial recorded redness, swelling and bruising as the most common events, all localised and transient, with no serious adverse events.

US rules. Planning matters if you live in the United States. According to a July to August 2026 review in ModernAesthetics, PRP is not itself an FDA-approved drug; it is prepared with FDA-cleared kits and used off-label for skin rejuvenation at the physician’s discretion. The same review notes that no injectable PDRN product (a shorter-chain salmon DNA fraction) is FDA-approved as a labelled aesthetic injectable in the US, while it is cleared for cosmetic injection in South Korea and parts of Europe. This is one reason many US patients choose to have polynucleotide treatment abroad, in London or Athens.

The FDA also warns that regenerative medicine products offered outside its oversight can carry risks, including infections. Whatever you choose, treatment should be delivered by a qualified doctor in a clinical setting, with sourcing, sterility and consent clearly explained.

Who should be cautious. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area, have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, are prone to keloid scarring, or have a fish or salmon allergy. These points are for your consultation to settle, not for self-assessment.

Questions to ask before you book

Whichever treatment you consider, a good consultation should answer these. The Mayo Clinic Press guide to PRP suggests asking about the practitioner’s experience, how many injections to expect, the cost, recovery restrictions and the chance of improvement in similar patients.

• Who will perform the treatment, and what are their qualifications?
• What product will be used, and how many sessions does your plan involve?
• What will your skin look like in the first 48 hours, and when can you fly home or return to work?
• How does the treatment fit with your current routine, including any prescription products?
• What follow-up is available once you are back home?

If you are travelling for treatment, plan the timing so that the visible after-effects, such as small bumps or bruising, settle before an important event or long flight.

Perspective

Many people arrive asking which of two treatments is stronger. In our clinic the better question is which plan suits your skin, your calendar and your goals.

We favour polynucleotides because they are a defined product with a defined protocol. That makes the course easier to plan, particularly for international patients who need to fit three sessions around travel. They also combine well with the rest of a skin programme: microneedling for collagen renewal, skin boosters for hydration, and prescription skincare at home.

The best results come from the right diagnosis first. Skin concerns such as pigmentation or redness need a conversation before any needle is picked up, and that conversation is where a UK-trained doctor adds most value.

Jess

Start with a consultation

Our polynucleotide treatment is offered at The M-ethod Skin Clinic in London and Athens with Dr. Mandy Mak, a UK-trained doctor. If you are not sure where to begin, or you are overseas, you can book an online skin consultation with Dr. Mandy to talk through your concerns, your routine and whether polynucleotides, skin boosters, microneedling or HIFU fit your goals. You can also browse our full clinic treatment collection.

FAQ

Are polynucleotides better than PRP?

For most people who want a standardised, predictable course aimed at hydration and skin quality, polynucleotides are our recommendation. They are a ready-made product with a defined protocol of three sessions four weeks apart, and no blood draw is needed. A consultation will confirm which suits your skin.

Can I have polynucleotides and Profhilo together?

Yes, they can be planned together because they work differently. Profhilo is stabilised hyaluronic acid that hydrates and firms, while polynucleotides support repair and skin quality. A doctor will advise on the order and spacing of sessions.

How long do results last?

A 2026 review reports polynucleotide durability of 6 to 12 months, and a 2024 study found benefits persisting up to six months. Individual results vary with age, skin condition and lifestyle, and many patients plan maintenance sessions.

Is PRP approved by the FDA for the face?

No. PRP kits are FDA-cleared devices, but no PRP product is approved for cosmetic use, so facial PRP is used off-label at the physician’s discretion. Ask your doctor which system they use and how it is prepared.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology: platelet-rich plasma
• Expert perspectives on polynucleotides, Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
• Systematic review of polynucleotides in esthetic medicine
• PN HPT for Asian skin regeneration
• Skin booster modalities in aesthetic dermatology
• JAMA Dermatology PRP trial, 2018
• Histologic evidence of new collagen formation using PRP
• Evaluation of PRP and microneedling, 2024 trial
• HPT dermal priming consensus
• ModernAesthetics: skin boosters and injectable moisturizers
• FDA: regenerative medicine therapies, patient information
• Mayo Clinic Press: platelet-rich plasma
• Regenerative aesthetics: what 77 clinical trials show

Recommended

• Polynucleotide injection: science-backed skin rejuvenation