Salmon Sperm Facials: Are They Worth It?

A-list celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Anniston revealed receiving salmon sperm facials for skin rejuvenation. Is it another bizarre beauty trend or a well-tested anti-aging treatment? We looked into evidence.

Reality TV star and media personality Kim Kardashian, 43, recently revealed receiving a salmon sperm facial but didn't share any details about where and what kind of treatment she got.

Actor Jennifer Aniston, 55, admitted using these injections last year, although she said she wasn't sure if the treatment made any difference.

Polynucleotides are chains of nucleotides, the building blocks that make up DNA. When introduced to the skin, polynucleotides help repair damaged DNA cells. They stimulate the production of fibroblast cells, which are responsible for producing collagen and elastin.

Injections of highly purified polynucleotide have been dubbed "salmon sperm facials" because they involve DNA obtained from the nucleus of sperm cells, typically of salmon or trout.

These injections have been long used in South Korea and are currently being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to Jimmy Sung, M.D., a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Tribeca Aesthetics.

In the United States, polynucleotides are currently used as a topical treatment which is administered using microneedling.

Are salmon sperm facials effective?

Sung says polynucleotides were first tested as a material to help heal wounds, particularly in people with diabetes who have a wound-healing deficiency.

"When polynucleotides are applied to diabetic wounds, especially diabetic foot wall ulcers, the patient improves significantly," Sung tells Healthnews.

An expert consensus recommends using salmon sperm facials as a biostimulatory booster strategy for skin priming and revitalization, especially for the face, periocular area, décolleté and neck, hands, scalp, and stretch marks.

There is data to support the recommendations. For example, a small 2016 study included five Korean women who received four polynucleotide injections in two-week intervals for skin rejuvenation.

Pore and skin thickness were markedly improved in the patients in their 30s, whereas skin tone, melanin, wrinkles, and sagging were noticeably improved in the patients in their 40s. The participants did not experience any serious side effects.

A 2007 clinical trial enrolled 143 men and women who received three or four sessions of injections, depending on their skin type. The polynucleotide treatment reduced superficial tine wrinkles and increased skin hydration and elasticity. The skin was most improved in the cheeks, the periocular area, and the neck.

What are the risks of salmon sperm facials?

In the studies, polynucleotide injections were well tolerated and did not cause severe adverse effects.

Sung says people with seafood allergies may worry about using fish-derived products.

"However, there hasn't been any kind of allergic reaction reported from any country that's been using it, especially in South Korea," he adds.

Polynucleotide may cause temporary blebs or swelling, depending on how the treatment is administered.

Because polynucleotides act at the cellular level, some improvement may be visible only two to three weeks after the injection, with the full effect noticeable after three months.