Polynucleotides vs ProfhiloWhich skin booster is right for you?
Both treatments regenerate skin from within using injectable technology, but through entirely different biological mechanisms. Here is how to tell which one your skin actually needs.
Polynucleotides, often referred to as PDRN treatments, have moved from niche to mainstream in aesthetic medicine over the last two years. Patients who previously only asked about Profhilo are now asking about both, and often asking which is better. The honest answer is that neither is universally better. They have different mechanisms, different strengths and different ideal applications.
What are polynucleotides and how do they work?
Polynucleotides, or PDRN, are short strands of DNA used in wound healing and regenerative medicine for decades before entering mainstream aesthetics. Injected into the skin, they bind to receptors on fibroblasts and trigger a regenerative cascade including collagen synthesis, elastin production and tissue repair. They are particularly effective on compromised, damaged or chronically dehydrated skin, and are one of the few injectable treatments with strong evidence for the delicate under-eye area.
What does Profhilo do differently?
Profhilo is an ultra-high concentration hyaluronic acid that spreads through tissue after injection, providing deep hydration while stimulating four types of collagen and elastin. The result is a global improvement in skin quality across the entire face: firmer, more hydrated, more elastic and more radiant. It is particularly effective for overall skin laxity and the generalised skin quality decline that comes with age.
| Polynucleotides (PDRN) | Profhilo |
|---|---|
| DNA fragments trigger cellular regeneration | Ultra-high HA drives hydration and collagen stimulation |
| Excellent for under eyes, thin or damaged skin | Excellent for global skin quality and laxity |
| 3 to 4 sessions, 2 to 4 weeks apart | 2 sessions, 4 weeks apart |
| Best for: repair, scarring, fragile skin | Best for: overall quality, laxity, loss of firmness |
Polynucleotides and Profhilo are not competing. For many patients, the most effective approach uses both, at different times or in different areas.
Which is right for you?
If the primary concern is generalised loss of firmness and quality across the whole face, Profhilo is usually where we start. Two sessions typically produce visible, lasting improvement. If the concern is more targeted, particularly the under-eye area or skin quality compromised by previous treatment, polynucleotides tend to be the first recommendation. For many patients, the optimal plan includes both.
What about Jalupro?
Jalupro sits in a similar space, an amino acid-based injectable that stimulates fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis through a different mechanism again. Some patients respond particularly well to Jalupro where other bioremodelling treatments have not achieved the desired result.
If you are trying to decide between polynucleotides and Profhilo from a website, you are starting in the wrong place. Both are excellent treatments in the right hands for the right patient. The starting point is a proper consultation with someone who will assess your skin and tell you honestly what they think will work best.
Dr James
Book your consultation today
Polynucleotides, Profhilo, Jalupro or a combination. Dr James will assess your skin and recommend the approach most likely to give you the result you are looking for.