What Is PDRN? Salmon vs Vegan PDRN, and What the Evidence Says

If you've spent any time on skincare TikTok or in the K-beauty aisle this year, you've met PDRN, often under the attention-grabbing name "salmon sperm serum". It has become one of the fastest-growing skincare searches in the UK. Here's what it actually is, and how far the evidence goes.

What PDRN is

PDRN stands for polydeoxyribonucleotide: fragments of DNA. The original source, and the one behind most of the research, is the milt of salmon. In Korea, PDRN has been used for years in clinic injections ("skin boosters"), which is where its reputation for helping skin look plumper and more even comes from.

Skincare brands have since put PDRN into serums, creams and masks, and more recently launched vegan PDRN, also called plant or phyto PDRN, made from DNA fragments of plants such as rice, ginseng or green tea, or from microorganisms.

Salmon vs vegan PDRN

They are not the same ingredient. Vegan PDRN comes from different sources, and, as dermatologist Dr Rachel Ho points out in her review of the evidence, you can't assume that results seen with one source apply to another. There are no published trials comparing salmon and vegan PDRN head to head.

The reasons people choose vegan PDRN are straightforward: no animal-derived ingredients, and none of the "salmon sperm" factor.

What the evidence supports

This is where honesty matters, because PDRN marketing often runs well ahead of the research.

• Injected PDRN has the most research behind it, but that's a clinic treatment, not something a serum does.
• Topical salmon PDRN has far less peer-reviewed evidence than the injected form.
• Topical vegan PDRN evidence is mostly laboratory work (studies on cells and skin samples). According to Dr Ho's review, there were no published human clinical trials of topical vegan PDRN as of mid-2025.

None of that means PDRN serums don't feel good or improve how skin looks. It means the claims should be modest: hydration, a smoother, fresher look, a nice texture. Be wary of any PDRN product, including ours, that promises clinic-level results from a bottle.

Our PDRN serum (coming soon)

Our 0.3% Spicule PDRN Centella Serum is launching soon. It combines three things:

• Vegan PDRN, so no animal-derived ingredients.
• 0.3% spicules: tiny, fine particles that give a gentle tingling, micro-exfoliating feel as you massage it in, to prep skin for the rest of your routine.
• Centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid to help skin feel calm and hydrated.

It's fragrance-free, vegan and made in the EU, and it'll be £34 for 30 ml. Because of the spicules, it's a first-step booster: apply to clean skin, then follow with your usual serum and moisturiser. If your skin is very sensitive or currently irritated, patch test first and start with a few uses a week.

You can't buy it yet, but you can join the waitlist on the product page to hear when it launches.