Rejuran: the polynucleotide skin booster
Rejuran is a Korean skin booster made of polynucleotides (PN), purified DNA fragments from salmon. Korea’s MFDS licenses it as a Class 4 medical device to temporarily improve facial wrinkles in adults, and clinics use it mainly for skin quality, thin under-eye skin and scars. It has no record in the US FDA’s device or drug databases.
Written by the Seoul Skin Boosters editorial team and medically reviewed by a Korean Board-Certified Dermatologist (AAD International Fellow · ASLMS member). Last reviewed: .
What is Rejuran made of?
Rejuran is made by PharmaResearch, a company based in Gangneung, Korea. According to the manufacturer, its process extracts DNA from salmon reproductive cells and refines it into polynucleotide chains (checked 18 October 2026). That is why Rejuran is often called a “salmon DNA injection”.
PN is not the same as PDRN, an ingredient that also comes from fish DNA. PDRN consists of shorter fragments and is thought to act mainly through adenosine receptors; PN’s longer chains are linked to supporting the extracellular matrix [1]. Findings for one cannot simply be transferred to the other. Because the material comes from fish, mention any fish allergy at consultation.
What is the difference between Rejuran Healer, Rejuran i, Rejuran S and HB plus?
| Product | Used for | MFDS licence |
|---|---|---|
| Rejuran (sold as Rejuran Healer) | Skin quality across the face | Class 4, permit 제허14-825호, 9 April 2014 |
| Rejuran i | Thin skin, such as around the eyes | Same permit as Rejuran |
| Rejuran S | Wrinkle and scar areas | Same permit as Rejuran |
| Rejuran HB plus | Crow’s feet; combines hyaluronic acid with PN | Class 4, permit 제허21-629호, 23 July 2021 |
The uses in the middle column follow the manufacturer’s own description of Rejuran, Rejuran i and Rejuran S in a September 2026 press release. The licence wording in the MFDS database is narrower: for Rejuran, “to temporarily improve facial wrinkles in adults”; for HB plus, sodium hyaluronate and sodium polynucleotide injected under the skin to temporarily improve crow’s feet in adults.
What does the evidence show for Rejuran?
The controlled trials are small. In a randomised split-face trial of 27 adults, three sessions two weeks apart of PN on one side and non-cross-linked HA on the other gave similar visual analogue and global aesthetic improvement scores; the PN side showed higher improvement rates for elasticity, hydration, roughness and pore volume, and no serious adverse events were reported [2].
In a 30-person split-face trial for crow’s feet, Rejuran was the comparator for a polycaprolactone filler. At 12 weeks, 41.38% of Rejuran-treated sides improved on the crow’s feet scale, against 48.28% for the comparison filler, a difference that was not statistically significant [3].
A 2026 expert review, written with PharmaResearch staff among the authors, reported no published cases of granuloma or vascular occlusion with polynucleotides so far, while noting that the evidence base remains limited and that more randomised trials are needed [4]. For scars, a survey of 501 Korean dermatologists found that 73.0% used PN injections, most often intradermally over three sessions [5].
What happens during a Rejuran session?
A numbing cream is usually applied first. The product is then placed as many tiny deposits in the skin, by needle or by an injector device, and each deposit leaves a small raised bump at first. In a split-face study comparing Rejuran i with HP Vitaran I, another polynucleotide product with adjusted pH and ionic strength, Rejuran i left bumps after 56.7% of sessions and redness after 60%, and its injection pain averaged 5.04 out of 10 against 3.39 for the comparison product [6].
Published protocols have used three sessions, two weeks apart in the periocular trial [2]. Your dermatologist will set the amount, the depth and the interval for your skin. Plan for visible bumps on the day of treatment rather than booking photos or events straight after.
How much does Rejuran cost in Seoul?
| Treatment | Price range |
|---|---|
| Rejuran Healer, 2 cc | KRW 300,000–500,000 |
| Rejuran Eye, 1 cc | KRW 200,000–300,000 |
| Rejuran booster, 5 cc | KRW 550,000–800,000 |
Prices checked 2026-10-18; confirm at consultation. A full course is usually priced per session, so multiply by the number of planned sessions when comparing quotes.
Does Rejuran have FDA approval?
No. On 18 October 2026 the FDA’s premarket approval, 510(k), De Novo and Drugs@FDA databases held no record for Rejuran or PharmaResearch. The country-by-country picture is in Rejuran and the FDA.
Is Rejuran the same as PDRN?
No. Both come from fish DNA, but PDRN uses shorter fragments with a different proposed mechanism, so studies of one do not automatically apply to the other [1].
How many Rejuran sessions are usual?
Can Rejuran be used under the eyes?
Yes. Rejuran i is the version described for thin skin such as the eye area, and the periocular trial treated the skin around the eyes [2].
References
Bibliographic records retrieved from PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
Kim ST. Comparison of Polynucleotide and Polydeoxyribonucleotide in Dermatology: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives. Pharmaceutics. 2025;17(8).
PubMed: 40871045Lee YJ, Kim HT, Lee YJ, et al. Comparison of the effects of polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid fillers on periocular rejuvenation: a randomized, double-blind, split-face trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2022;33(1):254-260.
PubMed: 32248707Jeong GJ, Ahn GR, Park SJ, Hong JY, Kim BJ. A randomized, patient/evaluator-blinded, split-face study to compare the efficacy and safety of polycaprolactone and polynucleotide fillers in the correction of crow's feet: The latest biostimulatory dermal filler for crow's feet. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(7):1593-1599.
PubMed: 31680395Rho NK, Chilukuri S, Chan G, et al. Expert Perspectives: Evidence-Based Applications of Polynucleotides (PNs) in Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatology. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2026;19:557226.
PubMed: 41939258Rho NK, Han KH, Goo BL, Kim HS. Real-World Use of Polynucleotide Injections in Scar Prevention and Management: A Nationwide Survey of Korean Society for Anti-Aging Dermatology (KAAD) Dermatologists. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026;25(5):e70887.
PubMed: 42087414Jeon W, Park M, Kim SW, Kim J. Efficacy of Ionization-Adjusted PN Filler in Minimizing Injection Pain: A Randomized, Patient-Blinded, Split-Face Study. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026;50(7):2723-2730.
PubMed: 41361144