Hi everyone,
I wrote a post on snail mucin (https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/1k9oqqq/research\_on\_whether\_you\_should\_use\_snail\_mucin/) and people seemed to find it helpful, and then I got a few requests to do one on PDRN so here it is! For context, I worked in analytics at a healthcare company, piecing together information to help people make decisions. Now, I'm putting together 360 summaries on asian skincare ingredients, because I was trying to find products for myself and I was frustrated that this didn’t already exist!
There haven’t been too many people posting their firsthand experiences with PDRN, so curious people's experiences with topical PDRN! Did you love it? Did you hate it?
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What does topical PDRN claim to do?
PDRN claims to support your skin to repair itself (stimulates cell repair & collagen production)
- Helps skin regeneration: Stimulates tissue repair, wound healing, and collagen
- Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation and calms irritated skin
- Hydrates & improves elasticity: Helps retain moisture and improves skin elasticity
How likely is it that it will work?
- Clinical Evidence Score: How clinically proven and widely established is the ingredient? Is there broad consensus amongst the scientific community about its effectiveness?
- Growing Support (5 out of 10): There’s lots of data on PDRN as an injectable (it’s approved for medical use) but if we focus on topical PDRN, there’s only a limited number of trials with a small number of people (n=20-50) focused on very niche areas. Experts agree the science is there and it works as an injectable, but there’s still debate about the effectiveness of topical absorption specifically (i.e. whether the PDRN molecule weight can be absorbed appropriately through our skin barrier).
- AB Community Promoter Score:Â How much advocacy does the AB community have for the ingredient, based on their experience & use?
- \Limited insights* Hit or Miss* (4 out of 10): There’s not a ton of feedback about PDRN serums & creams, but what is out there is a mixed bag. Some like the skin-repairing aspects & extreme hydration, but lots of people have also said they’ve seen 0 effects. There’s a lot higher support for use for PDRN injectables or for use after procedure recovery.
What's the risk that this will irritate my skin?
- Irritation Risk Score: What’s the risk of irritation with this ingredient?
- Skin Safe (2 out of 10): Really well tolerated across clinical studies & community experiences. It’s meant for compromised skin, so reactions should be rare.
Who should consider using it and passing on it?
- Most loved by**:** People with sensitive skin or compromised skin barriers, looking for healing & hydration support.
- May not be loved by: Underwhelming for many other skin types – e.g. oily and acne-prone skin may also find it too rich or clogging. Price sensitive folks (these creams aren’t cheap!)
What are some of the most highly purchased & reviewed products?
- Rejuran Turnover Ampoule (salmon PDRN)
- VT Cosmetics PDRN 100 Essence (ginseng PDRN)
So what?
- Try PDRN serums & creams if you have a compromised skin barrier and want healing support. If that’s not you, you can experiment with it (there’s little downside), but don’t expect too much beyond hydration.Â
- If you'd like to incorporate it, here's some tips:
- The most research is around salmon-derived PDRN, then ginseng-derived PDRN. Start there if you are curious.
- Layer with your other serums (between cleansing & before moisturizing). Pair it with hyaluronic acid + ceramides to enhance hydration effects.
- Consider using home-based micro-needling devices to help the active ingredients fully penetrate to optimize results.Â
Curious if you all have tried creams & serums and whether they worked for you or not? And let me know if you have requests for any other ingredients!
Finally, for those data people, here's the definitions guide I'm using behind the scenes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vFQ4l0mx1Ey9433MlNs6INx4TQc2qmwzjFxA4sPLN4E/edit?usp=sharing
by aglowsociety