What Is PDRN? A Clinic Guide to Salmon DNA Skincare
PDRN has gone from a Korean clinic secret to one of the most searched ingredients in aesthetics. Patients ask for it by name, often as “salmon DNA”. Here is what clinics need to know before adding it.
What PDRN is
PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide: a purified mixture of DNA fragments, most often refined from salmon. South Korean aesthetic clinics made it famous, and it is now a cornerstone of K-beauty professional skincare. In topical cosmetic products, PDRN is used for the look of hydrated, smoother, more even and radiant skin.
PDRN and polynucleotides (PN): the difference
PDRN and PN come from the same family of salmon-derived DNA ingredients. PN generally refers to longer DNA chains, PDRN to shorter fragments. In most markets, injectable PDRN and PN products are regulated as medical devices or drugs and need their own licence. Topical PDRN skincare is a different category: a cosmetic, applied to the skin as directed on its label. Kleos Health supplies topical cosmetic PDRN.
Why clinics add PDRN
- Patients already know it from social media and Korean skincare, so it needs little explanation.
- It works as a premium finishing step after facials, peels, microneedling, laser and RF treatments.
- It gives the clinic a story patients remember: the salmon DNA secret of Korean aesthetics.
What to look for in a PDRN product
- A stated PDRN concentration, so you know what each treatment contains
- The source and purification standard
- Manufacturing under cosmetic GMP (ISO 22716) or equivalent
- Cosmetic notification with Health Canada, or MoCRA listing in the US
- Clear labelling for professional application
- Protocols and training for your specific treatment menu
How to talk about PDRN with patients
Keep it simple. “This is salmon DNA, the ingredient Korean clinics are known for. We apply it at the end of your treatment for skin that looks calmer, smoother and more radiant.” Avoid medical words such as heal, repair or regenerate. They are not cosmetic claims and they set the wrong expectation.
PDRN from Kleos Health
Kleos Health’s Advanced PDRN Technology brings Korean salmon DNA skincare to clinics across Canada and the United States, with protocols built around each clinic’s devices and treatments, full team training and launch support. Read how it compares in Exosomes vs PDRN.
Frequently asked questions
Is PDRN the same as salmon DNA?
PDRN is a purified fraction of salmon DNA. “Salmon DNA” is the simple way most patients describe it.
Is PDRN the same as polynucleotides?
They come from the same family. PN usually refers to longer DNA chains and PDRN to shorter fragments.
Can PDRN skincare be used with microneedling or laser?
Many clinics apply topical PDRN skincare as the finishing step after professional treatments. Follow the product labelling and your professional judgment.
Is PDRN suitable for patients with fish allergies?
PDRN is derived from salmon. Ask every patient about fish and seafood allergies before use and follow the product labelling.
Where can clinics buy PDRN in Canada?
Kleos Health supplies topical PDRN skincare to licensed clinics across Canada and the United States.
Kleos Connect.
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