LP KIT_ Education

What is PDRN and how does it work?

PDRN has become a central topic in regenerative medicine in recent years, and more recently in skincare.

PDRN-based formulations are gaining attention for their potential to support skin regeneration, strengthen the skin barrier, and slow down visible signs of aging. But what exactly is PDRN? And why has it been discussed for over forty years?

Let's start with the problem PDRN was discovered to solve.

What is cell regeneration, and why does it decrease with age?

Can I just add collagen or hyaluronic acid externally?

What is PDRN?

How does PDRN combat the signs of skin aging?

The Aurea Protocol

Maximize effectiveness with the complete 3-phase protocol

The Benefits of the Aurea Protocol for Your Skin

How to choose the best PDRN product?

Does PDRN have side effects?

Who should consider the Aurea Protocol?

What is cell regeneration, and why does it decrease with age?

What is cell regeneration, and why does it decrease after age 40?

Every day, your skin cells work to build and repair skin tissue. The most important of these are called fibroblasts, and they produce collagen.

After age 40, this balance breaks down. An enzyme called collagenase begins to destroy collagen faster than fibroblasts can produce it. The skin doesn't stop working. It simply starts to lose this battle.

The numbers are clear. In the first five years after menopause, the skin loses about 30% of its collagen. In subsequent years, it continues to lose about 2% each year.

REDUCTION IN COLLAGEN LEVELS + WITH AGE

Signs of declining regenerative capacity

Tight-feeling skin, even immediately after applying cream
Dull or uneven skin tone
Reduced elasticity, especially around the facial contours
Wrinkles appearing sooner than expected
Makeup that no longer applies as smoothly as before
A feeling of tired skin, even when you feel well

The good news is that these signs can be slowed down, and partly even reversed, when the correct biological signal in the skin is restored.

Can I simply "add" collagen or hyaluronic acid from the outside?

That's the most natural question to ask. And the short answer is: it's not enough.

Collagen applied to the skin is made of molecules that are too large to penetrate deeply. It remains on the surface. It provides a temporary plumping effect, but it doesn't help the skin produce new collagen.

The same goes for collagen ingested, for example, through supplements. The only scientifically proven way to restore collagen is to reactivate the skin's internal production. Applying it externally or ingesting it is not enough.

Hyaluronic acid moisturizes well, but it doesn't tell cells to work harder.

Retinol works differently, and is often effective. But precisely because of this, it can be too strong on skin already sensitive to hormonal changes. The result is redness, flaking, and sometimes an even more fragile skin barrier than before.

In-office treatments, such as bio-revitalization or fillers, yield more visible results. But they remain invasive, require recovery time, and can cost between 170 and 600 euros per session.

Something different was needed. Not an ingredient to be added from the outside, but a signal that the skin recognizes as its own, and that prompts it to restart on its own.

What is PDRN?

PDRN stands for Polydeoxyribonucleotide. It is a highly purified DNA fragment, originally derived from salmon DNA.

This is not a random choice. This DNA is structurally similar to human DNA by about 97%. This is why your skin recognizes it as something familiar, not as a foreign body.

The story of PDRN begins in Italy. In the 1980s, a pharmaceutical laboratory in Sanremo studied its action on tissue repair. In 1994, AIFA approved it as a drug for wound healing. Not as a cosmetic: as a clinically verified active ingredient.

The main study, conducted on 216 patients in two Italian hospitals, showed complete healing in 37.3% of patients treated with PDRN, compared to 18.9% in the placebo group — with a median healing time of 30 days versus 49. In subsequent years, the monitoring of over 300,000 prescriptions confirmed an excellent safety profile.

Only later did Korea make PDRN famous worldwide, bringing it from medical studies to beauty serums. But the science behind this molecule was born and tested in Italy.

How does PDRN
counteract the signs of skin aging?

PDRN acts in two ways, working together like two sides of the same coin.

First: it slows down destruction. PDRN activates a skin receptor called the adenosine receptor. This, in turn, reduces the activity of collagenase, the enzyme that destroys collagen. Less active collagenase means less collagen lost.

Second: it aids production, again through the same receptor. PDRN provides cells with the "building blocks" they need to repair themselves, reducing the effort they have to make to do it on their own. Fibroblasts thus return to working more efficiently.

In addition, there is a protective action against oxidative stress caused by the sun, and a counteracting effect on cellular signals related to aging.

The result is not just a superficial effect. It is a signal that works on the cause, not just what is visible.

The Aurea PDRN Protocol

The Aurea Protocol was created to incorporate this active ingredient, previously known primarily in the medical-aesthetic field, into a daily routine. Without needles, without recovery time, to be done at home.

The protocol consists of three steps. Each step delivers PDRN to the skin at a different time of day: when you wash it, when you treat it, when you protect it for the night.

The cleanser. The bi-phase serum. The encapsulated cream.

The PDRN Soap Cleanser — a cleanser that deposits active ingredients onto the skin during washing, rather than removing them.
The Bi-phase Serum — a two-phase serum that activates when shaken, with salmon egg extract and hyaluronic acid at three molecular weights, to act on three depths of the skin.
Encapsulated Cream — a cream with active ingredients enclosed in small capsules, which remain fresh until you apply it.

Maximize Effectiveness with the Complete 3-Phase Protocol

Regeneration with PDRN works cumulatively. Each step reinforces the previous one.

The Soap prepares the skin during washing. The Serum deeply hydrates and creates the best conditions for absorption. The Cream finishes the routine, with active ingredients that remain intact until the very last moment.

In this way, the skin receives the same signal three times in the same routine, instead of just once with a single product.

The benefits of the Aurea Protocol for your skin

1. Fewer signs of fatigue, more radiance

PDRN helps fibroblasts work better. Over time, the skin appears more rested and radiant, without the artificial effect of some more aggressive treatments.

2. A stronger skin barrier over time

The ceramides in the Soap and the Bifida Ferment Lysate in the Cream — a prebiotic that keeps the skin's microflora healthy — help keep the skin barrier balanced, increase elasticity, and improve the skin barrier.

3. A more even tone

PDRN and Niacinamide work together on melanin formation, with a more comprehensive effect than a single ingredient would have.

4. Longer-lasting hydration

The Triple Hyaluronic Acid in the Serum, with three molecular weights, acts on three different depths of the skin. Hydration can last up to 8 hours, compared to 1-2 hours for a simple hyaluronic acid.

5.A more compact skin structure

By reducing collagenase and supporting fibroblasts, PDRN helps the skin produce new collagen, and not just on the surface.

6.A simple routine to follow every day

No needles, no downtime. Just three daily gestures, designed to work together.

How to choose the best PDRN product?

With the increasing popularity of PDRN, the market has been flooded with products of questionable origin. Here's what to look out for.

A verifiable clinical history Not all PDRNs are created equal. Look for an origin with published studies and a recognized approval pathway, not just a marketing claim.

Purity and origin How similar the DNA used is to human DNA, and how it is extracted, makes a difference in how well the skin can absorb and use it.

A system, not an isolated product A single product with PDRN offers a point of contact. A protocol designed around PDRN at every stage of the routine offers an effect that accumulates over time.

Ingredients that work together PDRN performs best when combined with other active ingredients: Niacinamide for tone, salmon egg extract for antioxidant action, Bifida Ferment Lysate for the microbiome. An isolated product rarely takes advantage of these combinations.

Does PDRN have side effects?

Clinical studies, including the monitoring of over 300,000 prescriptions in Italy, indicate that PDRN is generally well-tolerated, even on sensitive skin.

Unlike retinol, it usually does not cause photosensitivity or flaking. As with any new product, it is still a good idea to perform a patch test before first use. Those with known fish derivative allergies should consult a dermatologist first.

Who should consider the Aurea Protocol?

The Aurea Protocol is for you if you recognize one or more of these signs:

Your skin feels tight or looks tired, even with a regular routine
Your skin tone is dull or uneven, and makeup is no longer enough to correct it
Retinol has proven too aggressive for your skin
You've already tried many moisturizers, without noticing a real change
You are going through a hormonal change, and your skin seems to be changing faster than your routine can keep up with
You want to understand the science behind an ingredient before trying it

Even without specific signs, many women choose the Aurea Protocol as a preventive measure. To support their skin before the change becomes visible.

Product not found