They say an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. That could be the cornerstone quote of anti-ageing treatments, and one treatment in particular leads with pride – polynucleotides.
This article will help you understand how polynucleotide treatments can assist your journey toward firmer, radiant, and youthful skin, and how early treatment will help you resist the effects of ageing, so you stay looking and feeling beautiful for longer.
Opulent Aesthetics is the premier provider of polynucleotide treatments from its cosy studio in the heart of Purley. To find out more, book an appointment with Sadie today.
What are polynucleotides?
Polynucleotides are chains of nucleotides that form DNA and RNA. These special molecules act as ‘bio-stimulators’ that support wound healing and regeneration. They have been investigated thoroughly in medical and aesthetic processes and are noted as safe and effective for various treatments centred around tissue repair.
How did they become an anti-ageing treatment?
Research into the effectiveness of nucleic acids for cellular repair took off in the late 1990s in South-Korea, which has relaxed regulatory oversight compared to Western regulators. As nucleotide research showed promise, European researchers opened their doors to their medical and cosmetic applications.
In the 2000s advancements were made in the extraction and refinement of polynucleotides, making it easier to research, test, and apply them to clinical use.
In the early stages, polynucleotides were applied to treat wounds to see if they helped them heal faster and proved effective. It was also noted that those treated with polynucleotides developed fewer visible scars. This prompted an investigation into reducing scarring further through ongoing treatment, which was also effective.
With that, the door opened for polynucleotide treatments to be used in cosmetic procedures to improve skin texture and quality and reduce scarring from conditions like acne. Now, it is one of the most sought-after treatments for anti-ageing.
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Must read: Why anti-ageing treatments matter
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The promising benefits of polynucleotides
Polynucleotide treatments offer a myriad of benefits that go beyond anti-ageing to enhance beauty and improve skin quality gradually over time. These benefits include the following:
- Improved elasticity and firmness – Polynucleotides stimulate fibroblasts, which promotes the production of collagen and elastin, which is essential to your skin’s internal structure. The result is firmer, plumper skin.
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles – By improving your skin’s internal structure through collagen and elastin production, your skin will naturally replace lost skin and fill creases that cause fine lines and wrinkles.
- Scar and pigmentation improvement – The natural healing process that is triggered by polynucleotide treatments evens out your skin tone and makes it smoother, reducing visible scars until they fade.
- Repair and regeneration – Your skin is constantly replacing old cells with new cells, but this process gradually slows down with age. Polynucleotide treatments encourage a higher rate of cell-turnover, and this replenishes your skin leaving it looking vibrant and youthful.
- Anti-inflammatory – Skin is a protective barrier, your body’s first natural defence to the elements. It is constantly defending harsh conditions from the sun, cold wind, pollution, hard water, and physical activity like the gym, sports, etc. You may not notice it, but it becomes inflamed. Polynucleotides reduce inflammation and promote healing.
- Enhanced hydration – Hydration is immeasurably important to your skin’s volume, quality and ability to repair itself. Polynucleotides attract and retain water molecules, improving your skin’s hydration.
How do polynucleotides work?
Your skin has interconnective molecules that form part of a wider structure. It is called the ‘extracellular matrix’ (“ECM”). Fibroblasts are an integral cell found in connective tissue that make up your skin, and they are an important component in the ECM.
The four main components in the ECM are:
- Collagen – Provides tensile strength to the skin through cellular structure.
- Elastin – Provides flexibility through elasticity, so that your skin is not too brittle, but sufficiently firm.
- Glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronic acid) – Retains water to ensure adequate hydration for cellular repair.
- Fibronectin – Facilitates cellular repair and adhesion, keeping everything together and functioning.
Fibroblasts are crucial to skin repair and quality. As we age, their activity becomes less pronounced, but polynucleotide treatments enhance fibroblast activity to ensure ongoing rejuvenation.
They achieve this in the following ways:
- Cellular repair signals – Polynucleotides interact with receptors on the surface of fibroblasts, triggering cell activity and the production of key compounds like elastin and collagen.
- Activating cellular pathways – Polynucleotides provide a source of nucleotides (DNA and RNA), which can be used to manufacture the elastin and collagen.
- Anti-inflammatory action – Polynucleotides reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Improved cellular microenvironment – the combination of available nucleotides, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced water retention, creates the optimum environment for fibroblasts to function properly, and this results in cellular repair of skin.
How are polynucleotide treatments administered?
Polynucleotide treatments are administered through non-invasive injections using very fine microneedles that leave microdroplets of polynucleotides. The treatments can take as little as 15 minutes or no more than an hour if you are having multiple sites treated.
It is considered a zero-downtime treatment as you can continue with your daily routine as normal immediately after the procedure.
Sadie, Opulent Aesthetic’s leading clinician, will happily guide you through your treatment plan and welcome you into her cosy studio in Purley.
How long do the results last?
Several factors determine how long the results last, including age, genetics, and lifestyle choices. As polynucleotide treatment stimulates the natural repair of your skin through collagen and elastin production, the process takes time, and the results will persist for as long as extracellular matrix is enriched, but with time and age, cellular activity will eventually decline, but further treatment can address this.
Typically, the results will last from 6-12 months from your last treatment. Frequent treatment will ensure that you maintain good quality skin.
Final thoughts
Polynucleotides are quite possibly the best defence against ageing and enhancing your beauty naturally. It is a minimally invasive procedure that has proven the test of time and clinical studies.
Gone are the days where you have to accept decline and poorer quality skin just because of your age. And, if you have scarring and want to seem them gradually fade, polynucleotide treatments could be the perfect solution for you.
Science is constantly finding ways to enhance skin quality and maintain youth, but it might be some time before we find the fountain of youth, but we are glad that polynucleotides can hold off the clock somewhat until then.
Opulent Aesthetics is dedicated to helping women and men find their natural beauty. Our cosy studio is in the heart of Purley and we welcome enquiries. If you are ready to take that first step in transforming your skin, give Sadie a call today.
Remember, you are already beautiful and always will be.