When it comes to weird beauty ingredients, I’ve seen my fair share (snail mucin, you were hard to beat). But the latest trend stopped me in my tracks: salmon sperm. It also goes by PDRN (that’s polydeoxyribonucleotide to you). While long popular in Korea, it’s taken time for this rather novel ingredient to make inroads here. That changed when Kim Kardashian, on the heels of Jennifer Aniston, revealed that she had tried a salmon sperm facial last summer. Since then, the ingredient’s popularity has skyrocketed, seeing over 1,000 percent year-over-year growth and search interest on Google explode 162 percent, per trend forecasting firm Spate.

Predictably, the procedure comes at a cost, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that one Beverly Hills-based med spa offers the facials starting at $1,000, while NYC-based Equinox Spa offers the service as part of a $1,700 rejuvenation package. So is salmon sperm for skin legit? I asked two dermatologists for their thoughts.

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Purvisha Patel is a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon based in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the founder and owner of Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Associates. Additionally, Dr. Patel is the founder of Visha Skincare, a brand that provides simple, effective solutions for various skin concerns including acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, cellulite, stretch marks and more.
• Dr. Morayo Adisa, MD, FAAD, is a double board-certified dermatologist and Dermatopathogist. She is the medical director of Dermatology Physicians Chicago/Kenilworth, focusing on medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology. Dr. Adisa earned her medical degree from the University of Illinois, completing her medical internship at Evanston Northwestern Hospital and dermatology residency at the John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County.

What Is Salmon Sperm?

The eyebrow-raising colloquialism is actually PDRN, the shorthand for polydeoxyribonucleotide. As this 2025 study explains, PDRN is derived from, yes, salmon sperm. 

“It’s a novel ingredient that increases oxygen flow, promotes tissue repair and has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties,” Dr. Adisa tells me.

Dr. Patel adds, “It has regenerative properties, such as cell turnover and tissue repair, [and can] stimulate collagen.” It may also boost hydration and skin elasticity.

If you’ve come across PDRN in Asia, it’s likely been as an injectable (the most popular form of the ingredient). However, the procedure isn’t available in the U.S. (it’s not FDA approved), so many are opting for serums and masks both available at the spa and over the counter. In the case of Kardashian and Aniston, they paired it with a microneedling treatment—the closest you can come to an injection, which Dr. Patel notes is most effective. As previously noted, this treatment can be expensive, though costs vary—Chicago Aesthetics in Chicago starts at $150 while Mindy Kim Skincare in Miami offers a two-hour salmon DNA facial for $1,200. 

Intrigued but don’t want to shell out a small fortune? You can also incorporate PDRN into your routine at home. When it comes to product shopping, Dr. Patel advises buyers to look for anything with a 0.5 to 2 percent concentration. Two popular products are Medicube’s Salmon PDRN serum ($19) and Kahi’s Sodium DNA (PDRN) balm ($25). Biodance also recently launched a version of its viral face mask, Rejuvenating Caviar PDRN Real Deep Mask ($19).

“Concentrations within this range are generally considered effective for promoting skin repair, hydration and overall skin quality,” Dr. Patel says. “Higher concentrations (3 to 5 percent) may be used in specific therapeutic applications, such as for wound healing or more intensive skin treatments. These concentrations can provide enhanced regenerative effects.”

Echoing the dermatologists, a 2021 review of papers published in the last 25 years showed that PDRN was effective in wound healing, encouraging cell migration and growth and reducing inflammation. However, it’s worth noting that Dr. Adisa cautions that the ingredient still merits much study, and long-term effects aren’t fully understood.

Who Should Avoid It?

As with any ingredient, it’s not one size fits all. If you have a seafood or salmon allergy, you’re better off avoiding it. Dr. Adisa also advises those pregnant and breastfeeding or people undergoing medical treatment for illnesses like cancer to skip. And, of course, consult with your own dermatologist before proceeding.

The TL;DR

A $1k facial isn’t funny money, so does it work? Yes…with caveats. First, while some studies do show that PDRN is effective in wound healing and tissue generation, research is still ongoing, so it’s difficult to be conclusive.

Secondly, other claims made by PDRN, such as hydration, skin elasticity and anti-inflammation can be achieved through much more affordable means, including  including products with hyaluronic acid and other skin-nourishing ingredients. In other words, there are plenty of fish in the, um, beauty sea. 

So, a salmon sperm facial. Are you in or out?

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