Polynucleotides have been proven to help skin glow and retain a youthful feel, but now it has been revealed many are going to extreme lengths to get their injections
British women, including Charli xcx, are racing to have trout sperm injected into their faces. The reason why, however, is more surprising than you may think.
Currently, there is a huge wave of demand for polynucleotides, tiny fragments of DNA, in the beauty market. The DNA is injected into the lower part of the face using a small syringe as part of the aesthetic treatment.
However, the method of sourcing polynucleotides is rather bizarre, as it involved taking sperm from fish including trout or salmon. Despite this, a slew of people — including high profile celebrities — are trying the intriguing method to keep looking young, and loving it.
The BBC went to one application of the treatment with a woman, Abby, in south Manchester, who “winced” after a cannula was placed in her cheek to administer the solution. After being inserted, the liquid will trigger a response inside her face in order to produce more collagen.
Polynucleotides are extracted from the sperm of fish, after scientists revealed that fish DNA is strikingly similar to that of a human. When applied to the face, the idea is that the polynucleotides will cause a chain reaction in her face to produce more elastin and collagen, both of which are vital to maintain the skin’s flexibility and structure.
The weird facial treatment has already received celebrity backing, after singer and hitmaker Charli xcx told her nine million followers she was getting the treatment herself. When asked why she had taken up the procedure, she explained she believed “fillers are kind of over now”, and likened the DNA from the sperm to “deep vitamins”.
Other famous faces have also reportedly jumped on the “salmon sperm facial” bandwagon, including the likes of Kim and Khloe Kardashian. Friends legend and actress Jennifer Aniston added she was now taking on the procedure, joking with Jimmy Kimmel: “Don’t I have beautiful salmon skin?”
Speaking to the BBC about her procedure, Abby said she was receiving the treatment as a way to “target those problem areas” that she has with her skin’s elasticity. She is also using the treatment as a way to combat acne, which she has been suffering from for years, being left with consistent redness.
Beauty experts are also hailing the discovery of polynucleotides as a gamechanger when it comes to regenerative skincare, with scientific studies starting to highlight a connection between the DNA and firmer skin with less wrinkles. However, the procedures to have such a treatment do not come cheap — most appointments are quoted as high as £500 per session.
On top of this, aestheticians advise for the best results, three sessions need to be booked in over the course of several weeks. Following on from the syringe treatment, patients are told to top up every six to nine months in order to keep the new and glowing look.
And while a growing number of studies have shown the procedures are safe, some experts have admitted the body of knowledge on polynucleotides is still rather small, and more scientific is needed to ensure no nasty hidden pitfalls. Aussie-based consultant dermatologist Dr John Pagliaro said he would wait several more years before administering the treatment to ensure it is as safe as possible.
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