What Is PDRN and How Is It Used in Skincare?

PDRN is the skincare ingredient making waves in the beauty world. But what exactly is it, where does it come from, and what can it do for your skin? Here's everything you need to know.
In this article
  1. What Is PDRN
  2. How PDRN Works
  3. From Aesthetic Medicine to Skincare
  4. L'Oréal Paris' Bio-tech PDRN+
  5. Proven Results

PDRN has quickly become one of the most talked-about ingredients in skincare — but for many, it remains a mystery. Originally used in aesthetic medicine for its regenerative properties, PDRN is now making its way into topical formulations. L'Oréal Paris is championing this movement within skincare, launching an advanced serum innovation inspired by filler and skin booster procedures*. Born from the World’s No.1 Anti-Ageing Serum, L'Oréal Paris’ new Revitalift Filler formula is formulaed with both Hyaluronic Acid and PDRN+ within an Anti-Wrinkle Plumping Serum.

What Is PDRN?

PDRN stands for Polydeoxyribonucleotide. In simple terms, it is made from fragments of DNA — specifically, chains of nucleotides that serve as the fundamental building blocks of all living cells. PDRN has been studied and used in medical settings for decades, valued for its tissue repair capabilities, anti-inflammatory properties, and ability to promote skin rejuvenation at a cellular level.

Within skincare, PDRN is known for its ability to boost glow and improve skin quality and the feeling of skin elasticity.

How Does PDRN Work?

PDRN's mechanism of action centres on two key pathways:


Pathway How it works
A2A receptor activation PDRN binds to adenosine A2A receptors — natural locks on the surface of skin cells. This triggers a signal that calms cellular stress, boosts cell vitality, and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin.
Salvage pathway PDRN provides ready-to-use nucleotides — the building blocks cells need to repair and replicate. Instead of spending energy manufacturing its own materials, the skin can use these directly to rejuvenate and rebuild faster.

This dual action — activating cells while simultaneously supplying them with building blocks — is what has set PDRN apart. It works from the inside out, targeting the biological mechanisms that slow down with age.

From Aesthetic Medicine to Daily Skincare

PDRN's origins lie in regenerative medicine, where it was first used to accelerate wound healing and tissue repair. Over time, its benefits for skin quality — improved feeling of skin elasticity, firmness, and visible radiance — attracted the attention of the aesthetic industry. In South Korea, PDRN became a key active in skin booster injections*, one of the fastest-growing aesthetic procedures in the country. Traditional PDRN is typically derived from salmon sperm DNA.

L'Oréal Paris' Biotechnological Vegan** PDRN+

L'Oréal Paris PDRN+ is a complex of PDRN and PRN (polyribonucleotide) produced entirely through bio-fermentation — not sourced from salmon. This process yields a PDRN that is pure, vegan**, and 3,000x smaller than a pore size, ensuring optimal absorption into the skin’s surface when applied topically. It is smaller in both molecular weight and size vs traditional salmon-derived PDRN.

In the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Anti-Wrinkle Plumping Serum, PDRN+ is paired with a multi-weight Hyaluronic Acid complex for a dual-ingredient formula. While HA is known to deliver immediate hydration, plumping, and visible surface smoothing, PDRN is known to boost glow, improve the feeling of skin elasticity, and restore overall skin quality. Critically, PDRN is also known to help the skin's capacity to produce its own HA. The serum's fluid gel texture delivers an addictive sensory experience — fast-absorbing, non-sticky, and non-greasy.

"Over time, our cells produce less HA, less collagen and elastin. PDRN steps in to wake up this metabolism using biocompatible nucleotides the body naturally recognizes. Its action is unique because it creates a true cellular dialogue to boost epidermis vitality and restore skin radiance. In this cross-talk with Hyaluronic Acid, PDRN goes even further: it resets the capacity of the skin to produce its own HA. The arrival of this technology in topical skincare is a major breakthrough." — Dr. Saliou Ngom*, Natural Ingredients Development Expert, L'Oréal R&I #WakeUpYourSkin

"Korea is the epicentre of beauty including aesthetics procedures and there I witnessed the steep rise of skin boosters (yes I did it too). So, when I started working on the Filler-procedure inspired Filler franchise pioneering Hyaluronic Acid, it was only natural that I explored the skin booster key active PDRN. Now our No.1 Anti-ageing serum is powered by Hyaluronic Acid and biotechnological PDRN (not salmon!) to help enhance your skin quality, glow and elasticity!" — Chang Yeunhee, Global Skincare Marketing Director, L'Oréal Paris

Proven Results

The World’s #1 Anti-Ageing Serum has been clinically tested to deliver visible results:


Skin concern What the serum delivers
Dull skin Boosts skin Radiance.
Skin looks Dewy and Hydrated.
Glow.
Loss of firmness Skin looks more Elastic.
Fine lines Reduce the look of fine lines -60%.
Wrinkles Reduce the look of wrinkles -47%.
Loss of volume Replump, firm and tighten the look of skin.

Tested for all skin types and tones, including sensitive skin.

Clinical scoring, 53 women, 6 weeks.

*Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Serum is a cosmetic skincare product for topical use. Results not equal to a procedure. **Ingredient not of animal origin

*Important Note: Claims from Dr. Ngom are based exclusively on published scientific literature:

  • Squadrito et al., "Pharmacological Activity and Clinical Use of PDRN," Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2017
  • Kim et al., "Polynucleotide and Hyaluronic Acid Mixture for Skin Wound Healing," Tissue Eng Regen Med, 2025
  • Akaberi et al., "PDRN in Skincare and Cosmetics: Mechanisms and Applications," J Skin Stem Cell, 2025

Sources:

  • Squadrito et al., "Pharmacological Activity and Clinical Use of PDRN," Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2017
  • Akaberi et al., "PDRN in Skincare and Cosmetics: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Applications, and Advancements," J Skin Stem Cell, 2025
  • Girardeau-Hubert et al., "Reconstructed Skin Models Revealed Unexpected Differences in Epidermal African and Caucasian Skin," Sci Rep, 2019

Everything You Need to Know About PDRN in Skincare

PDRN is still new to many consumers. Here are the essential questions answered.

Is PDRN safe for topical use?
Yes. PDRN has been studied extensively in medical and aesthetic settings. L'Oréal Paris' bio-fermented PDRN+ is pure, vegan**, and designed specifically for topical application.

How is L'Oréal Paris' PDRN+ different from injectable treatments?
Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic PDRN+ Serum is a cosmetic skincare product for topical use. Results are not equal to a procedure. The formula is applied topically and leaves skin hydrated and looking glowy, replumped and smoother.

Can I use PDRN every day?
Yes — You can use the Revitalift Filler serum twice-daily, morning and evening, as part of your regular skincare routine.

Who is PDRN skincare for?
The Revitalift Filler HA PDRN+ Serum is designed for anyone looking to address visible signs of ageing — visible loss of glow, elasticity, plumpness, fine lines, and wrinkles. Tested for all skin types and tones, including sensitive skin.