Healthy skin can be achieved through a culmination of different factors including:-
a) Targeted skin care products used consistently.
b) Nourishing food and lifestyle including rest and repair.
c) Hormonal balance and reducing inflammation.
d) Skin treatments e.g. skin boosters, phototherapy, microneedling.
In this blog, I will focus on skin boosters and more importantly, comparing the most common ones – Profhilo, Polynucleotides and Sunekos.
WHAT ARE SKIN BOOSTERS?
The aim of this group of treatments is to boost the skin’s hydration, collagen, elastin and healing potential so it becomes healthier, more resilient and hopefully the cells act like its more youthful version. I love skin boosters for these reasons.
There are many different types of skin boosters which are typically placed in the superficial layers of the skin via multiple small injections. It penetrates the deeper layers of the skin where skin products will not do.
It reduces the need for injectable treatments, reduces the amount of treatments if indicated and overall results are better.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Skin boosters work DIRECTLY to stimulate cells OR INDIRECTLY to optimise the environment around the cells so it functions in its healthy youthful state.
Think of the skin cells as office workers. They work, produce and rest.
Skin boosters like polynucleotide and Profhilo are like new managers brought in to encourage these workers to be more productive and efficient. It works and you get results.
When these managers are not there, the workers will do the work but eventually will go back to their usual less productive state if the environment is the same.
Skinboosters like Sunekos bring in the managers but also improve the office environment, office equipment, work culture, the cafeteria, wellness program etc. This incentivise the workers to take more initiative, rise to a new standard of a new state of being and in a better environment for them to thrive.
COMPARING THE 3 MOST COMMON TYPES OF SKIN BOOSTERS
- PROFHILO
What is it and how does it work?
- Only has hyaluronic acid (mix of high and low molecular weight)
- MAY stimulate collagen and elastin but minimal.
What results will I see?
- Good for hydration, plumping and overall glow.
- If Profhilo is injected too deep into the skin, it will not give the desired effect and you will not see a difference.
- There will be mild swelling and bumps in the injection site which settles in 24 hours
- Results can be short lived as once the hyaluronic acid breaks down, the skin goes back to its original state.
How often is the treatment recommended?
- Lower face, neck and the body can be treated.
- 2 sessions are recommended 4-5 weeks apart.
- For younger patients, 1 session may be enough as some patients have reported making their face looking puffy.
- Maintenance once every 6 months.
- NB: There are counterfeit Profhilo which looks similar to the original packaging. Check for the holographic seal on the front of the box which certifies it’s authenticity.
2. POLYNUCLEOTIDES (PDRN)
What is it and how does it work?
- Contains long chain DNA sourced from salmnon sperm. Does not contain hyaluronic acid.
- They are building blocks which signals fibroblast cells to multiply increasing collagen and elastin production.
- PDRN also acts as antioxidants, scavenging free radicals that can speed up ageing.
What results will I see?
- Good for firming and reducing lines and wrinkles.
- There will be mild swelling and bumps in the injection site which settles in 24 hours
How often is the treatment recommended?
- Around the eyes, full face, neck can be treated.
- 3 sessions are recommended 2-3 weeks apart.
- Maintenance once every 6 months.
- The best brand I have found is Ameela.
3. SUNEKOS
What is it and how does it work?
- Patented formula of hyaluronic acid and 6 amino acid (HY6AA) that offers results similar to PDRN and more because of the type of collagen it stimulates.
- Signals the factory in our cells to produce proteins e.g. collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
- It is the only skin booster that can maximally produce the type of collagen that acts as a “glue” to keep the skin “tight” as there is less “slippage” between the epidermal and dermal layers.
What results will I see?
- Good for hydration, plumping, glow, firmness, reducing lines and wrinkles, skin texture and reducing pigmentation, redness, skin laxity and pore size.
- There will be mild swelling and bumps in the injection site which settles in 24 hours
- For the body, great for stretch marks and also cellulite.
How often is the treatment recommended?
- Around the eyes, full face, neck can be treated.
- Recommended 3 sessions 2-3 weeks apart.
- Maintenance once every 6 months.
SUMMARY
For more immediate results, Profhilo is a great option.
For longer lasting results and to treat the eyes, I would choose PDRN or Sunekos.
If you would like to improve skin laxity, redness, pigmentation and pore size, I would choose Sunekos.
I hope you found this blog useful.
If you like my approach and would like my support to help you optimise your skin health, please get in touch with my team on [email protected]
Until next blog, here’s to healthier and more resilient skin.
Dr Terry