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PDRN skincare: what 'salmon DNA' serums can and can't do (5 picks)

PDRN moved from clinic treatments into serums and creams, and in October 2026 it topped Korean beauty charts. Here's what it is, what the evidence says about putting it on your skin, how to read the label, and five well-known Korean PDRN products, including a plant-based one.

By K for All editors · 6 min read

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Updated Oct 29, 20265 picks

What PDRN is

PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide, a purified mixture of DNA fragments. A 2017 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology describes the original PDRN as a registered drug made from the sperm DNA of salmon trout or chum salmon, studied for tissue repair such as healing diabetic foot ulcers. Dermatology Times adds that newer versions are made from plants such as ginseng, or by fermentation.

On a skincare label, PDRN usually appears as 'Sodium DNA', according to the ingredient site Hwahae. So when a brand says 'salmon DNA', that is the ingredient it means.

Raw salmon fillet on ice

Our picks: four serums, then a cream

Paid links · Store and booking links in this guide are affiliate links: when you buy or book through them, K for All earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change, so check the store before you buy. How we pick: we compare official information, specs, prices and published reviews; we haven't personally tested every product.

Ordered by search popularity in Korea: Naver search trends for the last 7 days, re-ranked daily. No one pays for a spot.

  1. 1Best for brand pedigree: home care from the name behind a Korean clinic injectable

    REJURAN Turnover Ampoule (50 ml)

    REJURAN is also the name of a polynucleotide injectable used in Korean clinics. This ampoule is the at-home product: REJURAN's Amazon listing says it contains the brand's patented c-PDRN at 0.5% plus adenosine, and calls it salmon-DNA based. Don't expect clinic results from a bottle, as the evidence section below explains; treat it as a daily serum. Sold by REJURAN Cosmetics on Amazon.

    Check on AmazonCheck on Stylevana

  2. medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum (30 ml)

    2Best for a first PDRN serum, with brightening and fine-line claims

    medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum (30 ml)

    medicube says this lightweight serum is registered in Korea as a functional cosmetic for both brightening and fine lines, and that its pink color comes from vitamin B12 and doesn't stain. Apply it morning and night on clean skin, then moisturizer, and sunscreen during the day. medicube makes a salmon-PDRN version and a vegan 'Rose PDRN' version; the Amazon listing linked here is the salmon one, sold by Medicube & Aprilskin.

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  3. VT Cosmetics PDRN Essence 100 (30 ml)

    3Best plant-based option: PDRN from ginseng instead of fish

    VT Cosmetics PDRN Essence 100 (30 ml)

    VT's Amazon listing says the PDRN in this essence comes from Korean wild ginseng rather than fish, at 100,000 ppm. It describes a milky, unscented essence for morning or night. If you avoid fish-derived ingredients, read the ingredient list on the version you receive, because formulas can differ by market. As of October 2026 the Amazon listing is sold by VT Cosmetics US.

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  4. Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum (30 ml)

    4Best for hydration first: PDRN with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide

    Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum (30 ml)

    Anua combines PDRN with hyaluronic acid and collagen in a microcapsule serum. Its ingredient list shows what Dermatology Times describes: hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, glycerin and niacinamide sit near the top, while Sodium DNA (the PDRN) comes much later. Apply a few drops morning and night before moisturizer, with SPF 30+ during the day. Sold by Anua on Amazon.

    Check on AmazonCheck on Stylevana

  5. Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream (60 ml)

    5Best for the cream step: a light PDRN moisturizer

    Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream (60 ml)

    Hwahae Global says the PDRN trend has spread from serums to creams. Anua says the PDRN here is derived from salmon DNA, and the ingredient list puts squalane, glycerin, hydrolyzed collagen and niacinamide ahead of Sodium DNA. Anua describes a lightweight, fast-absorbing cream that doesn't pill under makeup, for morning and night. Sold by Anua on Amazon.

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Why it's everywhere in Korea right now

Hwahae Global, which tracks what overseas shoppers look at, reported in October 2026 that views of a PDRN firming cream rose 1,110%. From Oct 6 it took the overall No. 1 spot from a long-running ceramide cream and held it on six of seven days in the second week of October. Hwahae says the PDRN wave is spreading from serums to creams.

Pads are joining in too. On Olive Young's weekly pad chart for Sep 28 to Oct 4, 2026, Skinfood's carrot PDRN pad was No. 21, and a medicube listing that includes its PDRN gel pad was No. 7.

What the evidence says: injection vs. bottle

Most of PDRN's research comes from medicine and injections, not from creams. Dermatology Times (July 2026) points to a split-face trial in which an injectable polynucleotide product, Rejuran, did better than a hyaluronic acid filler, and notes that injectable PDRN is not FDA-approved for cosmetic use in the U.S.

For products you put on your skin, the same article is cautious. PDRN fragments are large, so it says they are unlikely to get through intact skin on their own. It counts a single small 2025 study of a plant (peony) PDRN applied around the eyes as the first published clinical evidence for topical use, and calls the results modest and preliminary. Any benefit you notice is more likely to come from the other ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, peptides or ceramides, and it concludes that expensive ampoules and creams may be unnecessary. Hwahae agrees that research on topical PDRN is still limited and that effects are likely modest.

How to read a PDRN label

Because the supporting ingredients probably matter as much as the PDRN, judge a product by its whole formula, not by the word on the front.

  • Find 'Sodium DNA' (or 'PDRN') on the ingredient list and note where it sits. Ingredients are usually listed from most to least, so a late position suggests a small amount.
  • Check the source: most PDRN comes from salmon, while some brands use plant PDRN (VT says ginseng; medicube sells a rose version). Hwahae advises people with a fish or seafood allergy to check the label and patch-test first.
  • Look at what else is in it. Hwahae names hyaluronic acid, panthenol, centella and ceramides as good companions.
  • Don't pay extra for the word alone: Dermatology Times says expensive PDRN ampoules and creams may be unnecessary, especially when a brand doesn't disclose molecular weight, delivery technology or clinical data.

How to use it

PDRN serums and ampoules go on after toner and before moisturizer, morning and night. Hwahae suggests sealing the serum with a cream, and if it feels drying on its own, adding a hyaluronic acid or ceramide moisturizer or using a richer PDRN cream at night. In the morning, finish with sunscreen, as Anua and medicube both direct.

Introduce one new product at a time. Hwahae advises caution when starting several new actives at once, and the AAD's patch test is simple: apply the product to a quarter-sized spot on your inner arm twice a day for seven to 10 days, and use it only if no reaction appears.

Glass dropper resting in a pool of clear serum on a mirror

FAQ

Is PDRN really made from salmon sperm?

Traditionally, yes: a 2017 review describes PDRN made from the sperm DNA of salmon trout or chum salmon. Newer versions also come from plants such as ginseng or from fermentation, and labels usually call the ingredient 'Sodium DNA'.

Does a PDRN serum work like PDRN injections?

There's no good evidence that it does. Dermatology Times says PDRN fragments are unlikely to pass through intact skin on their own, that topical studies so far are small and preliminary, and that benefits more likely come from ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

I have a fish allergy. Can I use PDRN skincare?

Hwahae advises checking the label and patch-testing first. Plant-based options exist, such as VT's ginseng PDRN and medicube's Rose PDRN version, but check the ingredient list of the exact product, and ask your doctor if your allergy is severe.

Can I use PDRN with retinol or vitamin C?

PDRN products are usually gentle hydrating serums, but Hwahae advises caution when you start several new actives at once. Add one product at a time and patch-test each for seven to 10 days, as the AAD suggests.

What is 'Sodium DNA' on an ingredient list?

It's the name PDRN usually goes by on ingredient lists, according to Hwahae. Its position on the list tells you roughly how much is in the product compared with other ingredients.

Read next on K for All

Why PDRN is trending in KoreaKorean ceramide barrier creamsKorean skincare routine for beginnersWhere to buy K-beauty in the US

Sources (11)

Squadrito F. et al., 'Pharmacological Activity and Clinical Use of PDRN', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2017Dermatology Times – Social Media Mythbusters: PDRN Serums (July 2026)Hwahae – PDRN ingredient guideHwahae Biz – Global K-Beauty Trend Ranking, Oct 2026Beautics-LAB – Olive Young weekly pad ranking (Sep 28–Oct 4, 2026)AAD – How to test skin care productsmedicube – PDRN Pink Peptide SerumAnua – PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 SerumAnua – PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing CreamAmazon – VT Cosmetics PDRN 100 EssenceAmazon – REJURAN Turnover Ampoule

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