Polynucleotides: The Post-Christmas Reset for Dull, Crepey Skin

There is a particular look that skin has in early January. A little grey. A little tired. Fine lines that seem to have deepened over a fortnight of late nights, rich food and one glass of fizz too many. The festive season is wonderful, but it rarely does your complexion any favours, and most people walk into the clinic in the new year wanting to press reset.

Anti-wrinkle treatment keeps expression lines soft and is worth staying on top of. Beyond that, though, a lot of patients tell us the same thing. They have tried Profhilo, they liked it, and now they want something that goes a step further for skin quality, especially that thin, crepey texture that shows up around the eyes and on the cheeks. That is exactly where polynucleotides come in.

This is one of the treatments our doctors reach for most often when the goal is genuine skin repair rather than volume or hydration alone. It works quietly, over a few weeks, rebuilding the skin from the inside. If your January wish list includes better glow, smoother texture and firmer, healthier skin, it is a strong place to start.

What polynucleotides actually are

Polynucleotides are chains of purified DNA fragments, most commonly derived from highly refined fish sources such as salmon or trout. The DNA is put through extensive processing to strip away proteins and anything else that the immune system might react to, leaving only the polynucleotide chains themselves. That purification is the reason the treatment is so well tolerated. Your cells recognise these fragments as raw material to work with rather than as something foreign to fight off.

Once injected into the skin, they do something clever. They act as a biostimulant, waking up the fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. As those cells become more active, the skin starts to lay down fresh structural support. At the same time, polynucleotides hold water in the tissue, which improves hydration, and they help mop up free radicals and calm inflammation. So you get repair, hydration and a soothing, antioxidant effect all in one.

It helps to be clear about what this treatment is not. It is not a filler. Fillers use cross-linked hyaluronic acid to add volume and reshape features. Polynucleotides do not change the shape of your face or add plumpness in that way. They improve the quality of the skin itself, its texture, its density, its resilience and its glow. That distinction matters, because it explains why the results look so natural. You still look like you, just fresher and better rested.

The concerns it targets

Our reel focused on three things, and they map neatly onto what polynucleotides do best.

The first is dullness and lack of glow. When skin is dehydrated and cell turnover has slowed, light no longer bounces off the surface the way it does on healthy skin, and the complexion looks flat. By boosting hydration and encouraging cellular renewal, polynucleotides help restore that lit-from-within quality that no amount of highlighter can fake.

The second is texture and pores. Uneven texture, rough patches and enlarged-looking pores tend to reflect tired fibroblasts and a weakened skin structure underneath. As new collagen builds, the skin surface becomes smoother and more refined, and many patients notice their pores appear less obvious over the course of a treatment plan.

The third, and the one that comes up most in the clinic, is crepiness and mild laxity. That thin, finely creased quality, particularly under the eyes, on the cheeks and across the neck, is a hallmark of collagen and elastin loss. Because polynucleotides work at the level of tissue repair, they are especially well suited to this concern. The under-eye area is one of the most popular zones we treat, precisely because the skin there is delicate and responds so well to a regenerative approach.

More than just the face

One of the things our practitioner mentioned in the reel is that polynucleotides come in different formulations for different areas. There are versions designed for the fragile skin around the eyes, versions for the face and body, and formulations used to support the scalp and hair. The principle is the same throughout, encouraging the tissue to repair and regenerate, but the product and technique are tailored to the area being treated. Your doctor will select the right one for you during your consultation.

What a session at Wellface involves

A polynucleotide appointment is straightforward and quick. It begins with a proper consultation, because we never treat before we have assessed your skin and understood what you are hoping to change. Your doctor will look at your texture, hydration, laxity and any specific areas of concern, then plan where the product will go.

The skin is cleansed thoroughly, and a topical numbing cream is usually applied to keep you comfortable. The polynucleotide solution is then delivered through a series of tiny injections placed across the treatment area, often in a grid or a series of small points so the product is spread evenly through the skin. Most people describe the sensation as small pinpricks, mildly uncomfortable rather than painful, and the numbing cream makes a real difference. The active part of the treatment usually takes somewhere between twenty and forty minutes depending on the area.

Afterwards you may see small bumps at the injection points, along with some pinkness. These settle quickly, often within a few hours and almost always within a day or two. Most patients are back to normal activities the same day, which is one of the reasons this treatment fits so well into a busy January schedule.

How many sessions you will need

Polynucleotides work as a course rather than a one-off. For most people, a plan of two to four sessions spaced roughly two to four weeks apart gives the best foundation. Some notice brighter, more hydrated skin after the very first session, but the meaningful changes in texture and firmness build gradually as collagen production ramps up over the following weeks. The results continue to develop for a while after your final appointment.

Once you have completed your initial course, maintenance sessions every six to twelve months help keep that collagen stimulation ticking over so the improvements hold. Your doctor will recommend a rhythm that suits your skin and your goals.

Aftercare that protects your results

The aftercare for polynucleotides is refreshingly simple, but following it properly does make a difference to how well your skin responds.

For the first 24 hours, avoid anything that raises your body temperature or increases blood flow to the face. That means no gym, no sauna, no hot yoga and no alcohol. Keep the treated area clean, and try not to press, rub or massage it for the first day or so, which gives the small injection points time to close. Skip makeup for the rest of the day where you can, so the skin is left to settle.

Over the following days, be gentle. Use a mild, fragrance-free moisturiser, hold off on strong active ingredients such as retinoids and acids for a few days, and protect the skin from direct sun with a broad-spectrum SPF. Staying well hydrated and getting decent sleep supports the repair process too, since the whole point of the treatment is to encourage your own cells to do their best work.

Polynucleotides or Profhilo?

This is the question we hear most, and it is a good one. Both treatments improve skin quality, both rely on your body's own processes, and neither adds volume. The difference lies in how they work.

Profhilo is essentially injectable, ultra-pure hyaluronic acid. It floods the skin with hydration and spreads to create a hydrolift effect, improving glow, elasticity and mild laxity. It is a brilliant choice when the main issues are dehydration, dullness and skin that has started to feel a little loose. Many patients love how quickly it refreshes tired skin.

Polynucleotides take a more regenerative route. Rather than delivering hydration directly, they signal the skin to repair and rebuild, strengthening its structure at a cellular level. That makes them particularly effective for crepey texture, fine lines, under-eye concerns, enlarged pores and skin that needs genuine rebuilding rather than topping up. As one clinician neatly put it, once Profhilo's hydration is used up it is gone, whereas polynucleotides aim to leave the skin in a structurally better place.

It is rarely a case of one being better than the other. They simply suit different concerns, and plenty of patients do well combining or alternating them, using Profhilo for hydration and glow and polynucleotides for deeper repair. If you have tried Profhilo and want to take your skin quality a step further, polynucleotides are the natural next move.

Combining polynucleotides with your other treatments

One of the reasons our doctors rate polynucleotides so highly is how well they sit alongside the other treatments on our menu. Because they support tissue repair and healing, they pair beautifully with skin rejuvenation devices and facials. Our practitioner mentioned this in the reel, and it is worth expanding on.

They complement in-clinic facials such as Hydrafacial and our advanced fusion facials, giving the skin a regenerative boost on top of the immediate refresh. They also work hand in hand with energy-based treatments like Morpheus8, Secret Pro and our BBL Hero platform, all of which are used for rejuvenation, texture, pigmentation and redness. The general rule with the more intensive devices is to space the sessions sensibly so the skin barrier has time to recover between procedures, and your doctor will map out the right sequence and timing for you. Treated together as part of a considered plan, these combinations tend to give more complete results than any single treatment on its own.

Common questions about polynucleotides

Does the treatment hurt?

Most people find it very manageable. It involves a series of small injections, but a topical numbing cream is applied first, and patients usually describe the feeling as mild pinpricks rather than genuine pain. Any tenderness afterwards is short-lived.

When will I see results?

Some patients notice a fresher, more hydrated look within days of the first session. The more significant changes in texture, firmness and glow build gradually over the following weeks as collagen production increases, and they keep improving for a while after your final session in the course.

Is there much downtime?

Very little. You may have small bumps and some pinkness at the injection points, which typically fade within hours and usually resolve within a day or two. Most people carry on with their day as normal, which is part of the appeal in a busy month.

Are polynucleotides safe?

The DNA fragments used are highly purified and biocompatible, so the risk of reaction is low and the treatment is well tolerated across most skin types. As with any injectable, having it performed by an experienced medical practitioner is what keeps it both safe and effective, which is why every treatment at Wellface is doctor-led.

Can I have polynucleotides if I have had filler or anti-wrinkle injections?

Yes. Polynucleotides can be combined with anti-wrinkle treatment and dermal fillers as part of a balanced plan. Because they improve skin quality rather than add volume, they work in a completely different way, and many patients use them alongside their other treatments for a more rounded result. Your doctor will advise on the best order and spacing.

Start the year with skin that looks rested

If the festive season has left your skin looking flat, crepey or simply tired, polynucleotides are one of the most rewarding ways to turn that around, gently and from within. The best first step is a proper conversation with one of our doctors, who can look at your skin, understand what is bothering you and put together a plan that might involve polynucleotides alone or in combination with your other treatments.

Our team sees patients at all three Wellface clinics, in Cobham, Esher and Wimbledon, and would be glad to talk you through whether this is the right treatment for the results you have in mind. Book a consultation and let us help you get your skin back on its A-game for the year ahead.