Regenerative Aesthetics
What Are Polynucleotides? A Guide to Regenerative Skin Rejuvenation
Polynucleotides have moved from clinical curiosity to one of the most talked about injectables in UK aesthetics. Here is what they actually do, and how they differ from filler.
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Repair
Works with the skin’s own recovery processes
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No volume
Improves skin quality, does not fill or plump
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Course-based
Usually a short series of sessions, then review
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Delicate areas
Often chosen for thin skin such as under the eyes
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- Injectable chains of purified nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA, used to support the skin’s own repair activity.
- A skin quality treatment, not a dermal filler or anti-wrinkle injection, so no added volume and no muscle relaxing.
- Typically used where skin is thin, tired or crepey, including the under-eye area, neck and face.
- Normally a short course spaced a few weeks apart, then review and occasional maintenance.
- Suitability is decided at consultation, and results vary from person to person.
Polynucleotides are injectable chains of purified nucleotides, the same building blocks that make up DNA, used to support the skin’s own repair and renewal activity. Unlike a dermal filler they are not designed to add volume or reshape a feature. They are placed into the skin to improve its quality, so the aim is firmer, better hydrated skin over a course rather than an instant change on the day. That distinction changes what a good result looks like: volume treatments show immediately, regenerative treatments work gradually and show in texture, tone and resilience.
What Are Polynucleotides Made Of?
Products used in UK clinics are derived from purified natural sources and processed into a sterile injectable gel. The active component is a chain of nucleotides, so the material is closely related to something the body already recognises. Because it is not a hyaluronic acid gel it behaves differently in the skin. Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water, giving fillers their plumping effect. Polynucleotides instead act as a supportive scaffold, encouraging the skin’s own cells to repair more readily.
How Do Polynucleotides Differ From Fillers and Skin Boosters?
This matters because these treatments solve genuinely different problems. A more defined jawline needs a structural treatment. Dull, thin, tired skin needs a skin quality treatment. Confusing the two is how people end up disappointed.
| Treatment | What it targets | How it works | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polynucleotides | Skin quality, firmness, resilience | Supports the skin’s own repair activity over a course | Thin or tired skin, under-eye area, neck |
| Dermal fillers | Volume and structure | Adds a gel that physically fills and supports | Cheeks, chin, jawline, lips |
| Skin boosters | Hydration and glow | Delivers hyaluronic acid into the skin to hold water | Dull, dehydrated skin across the face |
| Wrinkle reduction | Expression lines | Temporarily relaxes the muscle creating the line | Forehead, frown and crow’s feet lines |
In practice plans overlap. Polynucleotides may improve the quality of thin skin first, with dermal fillers considered afterwards if volume is genuinely the issue, while someone whose main complaint is dehydration may do better starting with skin boosters. Sequencing is clinical judgement, which is why a consultation is worth more than a price list.
What Can Polynucleotides Help Improve?
Practitioners reach for them when the concern is the condition of the skin rather than its shape. Common uses include:
- Thin, crepey skin that has lost its bounce.
- The under-eye area, where fine crepiness and tired looking skin are common and filler is not always the answer.
- Overall facial skin quality, including texture and firmness that has softened with age.
- The neck and decolletage, often neglected and showing ageing early.
The under-eye application deserves a specific mention because it is a frequent motivation for enquiries. Under-eye concerns have several possible causes, including genuine volume loss in the tear trough, pigmentation, fluid retention and simple skin thinning. Only some of those respond to a regenerative injectable. A practitioner examining the area will work out which pattern you actually have, and may suggest a different treatment such as a tear trough filler or under-eye skin boosters if that fits better.
What Happens During Treatment?
The process is straightforward and takes place in the clinic.
1Consultation and assessment
A healthcare professional reviews your medical history, examines the skin and confirms whether polynucleotides suit your concern.
2Preparation
The area is cleansed and a topical numbing cream may be applied for comfort.
3Injection
The product is placed into the skin with a fine needle across a series of small injection points.
4Aftercare and review
You leave with aftercare guidance, then return for further sessions at the interval advised.
Most people describe the injections as tolerable rather than comfortable. Pinpoint redness, mild swelling or tiny bumps at the injection sites are common afterwards and settle quickly.
✓Keep the area clean and avoid touching or massaging it unless told otherwise.
✓Skip makeup over the injection points for the rest of the day.
✓Avoid saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga and very hot showers.
✓Leave strenuous exercise until the following day.
✓Hold off on acids and retinoids until your practitioner says otherwise.
General guidance is on the Skinox aftercare page, and your practitioner will give instructions specific to your treatment.
Because the treatment supports the skin’s own processes, changes appear gradually. Many people notice how the skin feels before how it looks, and the fuller picture emerges over the weeks after the course. Results are not permanent and maintenance is discussed at review. If you want an instant change for an event next week, this is the wrong treatment and a good practitioner will say so.
Is It Safe, and Who Should Avoid It?
Any injectable carries risk, and safety depends heavily on who is holding the needle. Injection site effects such as redness, swelling, tenderness and small bruises are common and short lived. Less common problems, including infection, are why sterile technique, a regulated clinic and a practitioner who can manage complications matter.
They are not suitable for everyone. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection in the area, certain autoimmune and bleeding conditions, and known sensitivity are all reasons a practitioner may decline or refer you elsewhere.
UK regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures is still developing, so check who is treating you and what they are qualified to do. The NHS guidance on cosmetic procedures lists sensible questions, and the Save Face register lets you verify a practitioner has been independently assessed. Skinox is Save Face accredited and CQC-regulated, as set out on the government approved clinic page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are polynucleotides the same as a dermal filler?
No. Fillers add volume by placing a gel under the skin. Polynucleotides improve the quality of the skin itself, so they do not plump or reshape. A practitioner will advise which fits after examining the area.
How long do the results last?
Not permanent, and they vary between individuals depending on skin condition, age, lifestyle and area treated. Improvements build gradually then fade gradually. Most plans include a review where maintenance is discussed.
Is there much downtime?
Usually minimal. Expect pinpoint redness, mild swelling and possibly small bumps for a few hours to a day or two, plus occasional bruising. Most people return to normal activities straight away, avoiding heat, exercise and makeup over the area for the first day.
Does the treatment hurt?
Most people find it tolerable rather than painful. The injections use a fine needle and each is brief. Numbing cream can be applied beforehand, and discomfort settles as the session finishes.
Can polynucleotides be used under the eyes?
The under-eye area is a common reason people ask, because the skin there is thin. Whether it suits you depends on the cause, as hollowing, pigmentation, fluid retention and skin thinning look similar but respond to different treatments. That is settled at consultation.
Who should not have this treatment?
Avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding, where there is active infection in the area, and with certain autoimmune or bleeding conditions or known sensitivity. A full medical history is taken at consultation to identify these.
A Sensible Way to Think About Regenerative Treatments
Polynucleotides suit patients who are patient. They will not reshape a face or deliver a dramatic change in a fortnight, but for thin, tired skin that needs support rather than volume they are worth a conversation.
The useful next step is an assessment rather than a booking. A healthcare professional can say honestly whether this is right for what is bothering you. Browse the full range on the Skinox treatments page or ask through the contact page.
Book a consultation at the Leicester clinic for an honest assessment from a healthcare professional, and a plan built around your skin rather than a trend.