PDRN for Acne Scars: What the Research Actually Tested

What the studies actually tested

The PDRN and polynucleotide acne scar studies reviewed here tested injections and procedure-based combinations, not an ordinary daily serum routine. These are different interventions, so their results should stay separate. Our PDRN and polynucleotides comparison provides context for the terminology; here, the relevant question is what each study administered and what it could establish.

A prospective, open-label randomized study enrolled 17 participants with Grade 2–5 acne scars and compared PDRN injections, air-botulinum toxin injections, and their combination. Participants received injections at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8, with follow-up at Week 16. The study reported scar assessment score reductions of 6.1 points with PDRN, 9.0 with air-botulinum toxin, and 12.0 with the combination. Its authors called for further research.

A separate double-blinded trial compared injected Highly Purified Technology Polynucleotides, or PN-HPT, with saline. It treated 10 patients in each group; only the PN-HPT group showed statistically significant improvement from baseline at 1 and 3 months. Eligible participants were nonsmoking women aged 30 to 50 with Goodman grade 3 to 4 atrophic scars and no active acne during the previous 5 years. That narrow population limits broader conclusions.

Dermatologist use is not the same as proof of effectiveness. A Korean Society for Anti-Aging Dermatology survey found that 73.0% of 501 respondents used polynucleotide injections for scar management, often alongside other treatments. The authors explicitly described the findings as hypothesis-generating rather than definitive treatment evidence and called for prospective studies of dosing, intervals, and combinations.

Sources: [4] [6] [7]

PDRN with lasers and microneedling

The laser trial supports a combined procedure, not an isolated effect of polynucleotide. In 100 participants with atrophic acne scars, researchers compared fractional CO2 laser alone with laser plus topical exosome-mimetic nanovesicles and polynucleotide. Treatment occurred 3 times over a 4-week period, with scar severity assessed at baseline and 3 months. Because the combination added both topical components, the trial cannot separate their contributions.

The trial reported greater scar severity score reduction with combination therapy: 47.3% versus 35.9% with laser alone. It also reported less post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, at 10% versus 24%, and less prolonged redness, at 14% versus 30%. Those findings belong to the complete treatment protocol. They do not establish equivalent results from polynucleotide alone, PDRN injections, or a serum applied without laser treatment.

For PDRN with microneedling, the sources reviewed here include clinic claims and a case report, which deserve different weight from randomized trials. Yoo Direct Health says its procedure uses microneedling followed by PDRN serum or an injectable form, and claims the combination reduces scar depth and width. The case report combined subcision, filler, microneedling radiofrequency, 90% TCA CROSS, and topical salmon PDRN; its scar score fell from 21 to 15 after 10 days. Neither source isolates PDRN's contribution.

Sources: [2] [3] [5]

Can a PDRN serum help acne scars?

An everyday PDRN serum has not been shown to reduce depressed acne scars by the studies reviewed here. The topical evidence here involves application alongside procedures, not serum use on its own. A product containing the same named ingredient is not the same intervention as an injection or a laser-assisted protocol. Our guide to PDRN serum use is separate from evidence for scar treatment.

The case report's topical product was also a mixture, not PDRN alone. The authors described applying 1 ml of a skin booster containing non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid, salmon PDRN, ascorbic acid, and growth factor across the face. They suggested that the mixture might accelerate healing and improve pigmentation, but the report cannot show which ingredient contributed or whether the mixture would help without the accompanying procedures.

Claims about hydration or post-procedure recovery do not establish correction of scar depressions. Yoo Direct Health claims PDRN improves hydration and elasticity and says microneedling creates channels that allow deeper penetration. Those remain clinic claims in this evidence set. For mild acne scarring, the American Academy of Dermatology specifically says a topical retinoid or salicylic acid can make scars less noticeable; that is not evidence for a PDRN serum.

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [5]

Other treatments dermatologists use for scars

Dermatologists have several scar treatments beyond PDRN, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The AAD says laser resurfacing prompts collagen and elastin production as skin heals, potentially reducing scar appearance. It describes microneedling as puncturing the skin to stimulate those same structural proteins and reduce acne scars. These are procedure-specific explanations, not evidence that every collagen-related skincare claim translates into scar improvement.

Radiofrequency and microneedling can also be combined. The AAD says radiofrequency waves stimulate collagen and elastin production, and that adding radiofrequency to microneedling can make acne scars less noticeable than either treatment alone. It describes microneedling, radiofrequency, and radiofrequency microneedling as safe for all skin tones. A board-certified dermatologist can discuss how those options relate to your skin and scars.

Chemical peels and fillers address scars through different approaches, according to the AAD. Peels stimulate collagen and elastin production; a mild peel may require 3 to 5 treatments every 2 to 4 weeks. Fillers add volume to depressed scars and can also stimulate those proteins. The AAD says most filler results last 3 months to 2 years, although some fillers are permanent, and maintenance generally involves additional treatments.

Platelet-rich plasma is another combination option described by the AAD, not another name for PDRN. It involves drawing blood and processing it to separate the patient's platelets. The AAD says studies show that injecting platelets alongside another treatment, such as microneedling, can make acne scars less visible. Evidence for that combination should not be treated as evidence for PDRN or polynucleotide products.

Sources: [1]

Talking to a dermatologist

Ask a board-certified dermatologist or licensed injector to identify the proposed product, delivery method, and supporting study. If you searched for “Rejuran acne scars,” the studies summarized here do not establish a result for that specific branded treatment. Ask whether the plan uses PDRN or polynucleotides, injections or topical application, and additional procedures. Our PDRN injections guide addresses that route separately from skincare.

Active acne, pregnancy, allergies, and other health conditions belong in the consultation, not a serum comparison. Yoo Direct Health generally advises against its PDRN microneedling procedure during active acne, active infection, or pregnancy, and for patients with certain bleeding disorders or salmon allergies. That is the clinic's guidance, not a universal eligibility rule. A PDRN acne search should not substitute scar-treatment evidence for advice about active breakouts.

Discuss recovery, uncertainty, and the full treatment cost before agreeing to a plan. The small PDRN injection study reported mild swelling and redness, while Yoo Direct Health describes redness and a sunburn-like sensation for 24–48 hours after its microneedling procedure. Those reports do not establish that every protocol has the same risks; see our PDRN side effects guide. The AAD says medical insurance does not cover acne scar treatment.

Sources: [1] [2] [4] [5] [6]