Skin & Regeneration
What Is a Skin Booster Injection? Ingredients and Evidence Limits
According to a review abstract in The AESTHETICS, “skin booster” is an umbrella term without a single clear definition. The abstract introduces five ingredients: hyaluronic acid, polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), polynucleotide (PN), oligonucleotide, and amino acids. A separate review abstract describes one intradermal method: small amounts of product delivered through serial micropunctures, distinct from filler injection. A systematic review of nine PN studies involving 219 people reported that transient irritation (3.7%) generally resolved within one week in a study it cited. A separate hyaluronic acid review found substantial differences between study designs because the injected material varied in molecular weight and density.
- The five ingredients are the subjects introduced in one review abstract, not a standard skin booster formula.
- Serial intradermal micropunctures describe one published method. The term alone does not identify one specific injection technique.
- The PN review included nine studies and 219 people, with different injection sites and techniques. Its 3.7% transient irritation figure and generally one-week course concern a cited PN study.
- The hyaluronic acid analysis found substantial variation across studies in molecular weight and density.
Ingredient names, product classification, and delivery method need to be checked separately. The AESTHETICS review’s five-item list does not mean every product contains all five ingredients.
One abstract’s description of an injection method
In Media Dermato-Venereologica Indonesiana, an abstract describes small amounts of product delivered into the dermis through serial micropunctures. It distinguishes that approach from filler injection. The description covers one method, not every product marketed as a skin booster.
What the review of nine PN studies covers
A Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology systematic review included nine studies with 219 people receiving PN injections for aesthetic purposes. Injection sites and techniques varied. The review reported no severe adverse events; reported mild effects included localized pain, swelling, itching, bruising, erythema, and transient irritation. In the cited PN study, transient irritation was reported at 3.7% and typically resolved within one week. This course applies to the cited irritation report, not to every PN reaction.
Why the hyaluronic acid studies were difficult to combine
In a separate Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology systematic review and meta-analysis, the authors examined randomized clinical trials of intradermal hyaluronic acid injections. The injected material differed in molecular weight and density, contributing to substantial variation between study designs. A finding from one formulation or protocol cannot automatically describe another.
For products classified as medical devices in Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety points to its medical device product information service for product details and authorization status. The umbrella term “skin booster” alone does not identify a particular product or its classification.
References
- Yi et al., “A Review on ‘Skin Boosters’: Hyaluronic Acid, Poly-L-lactic Acid and Pol-D-lactic Acid, Polydeoxyribonucleotide, Polynucleotides, Growth Factor, and Exosome.” The AESTHETICS, Korean Association for Laser Dermatology and Trichology. https://www.theaesthetics.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.46738/Aesthetics.2023.4.1.1
- Wati and Jusuf, “PENGGUNAAN FILLER DAN SKIN BOOSTER PADA PEREMAJAAN KULIT” (in Indonesian). Media Dermato-Venereologica Indonesiana. https://ojs.perdoski.id/index.php/mdvi/article/view/447
- “The Effectiveness of Polynucleotides in Esthetic Medicine: A Systematic Review.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11845969/
- “The Effect of Local Hyaluronic Acid Injection on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11731322/
- Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, “의료기기 안전사용 — 소비자 안전사용” (in Korean). https://www.mfds.go.kr/wpge/m_529/de050901l001.do
Frequently asked questions
Does skin booster mean one ingredient?
No. A review abstract in The AESTHETICS says the term has no clear single definition. It introduces five ingredients: hyaluronic acid, polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), polynucleotide (PN), oligonucleotide, and amino acids. That list describes the scope of this review, not a standard formula.
Are skin boosters injected the same way as fillers?
An abstract in Media Dermato-Venereologica Indonesiana distinguishes one skin booster method from filler injection: small amounts of product are delivered into the dermis through serial micropunctures. This describes the method in that abstract, not every product called a skin booster.
Did skin booster studies use the same injection sites and materials?
No. A systematic review of nine PN studies involving 219 people found differences in injection sites and techniques. A separate systematic review and meta-analysis of intradermal hyaluronic acid injections noted substantial variation in study designs because the administered hyaluronic acid differed in molecular weight and density.
Where can I check information about a product classified as a medical device in Korea?
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety directs readers to its medical device product information service for product details and authorization status. Check the actual product and its classification rather than treating skin booster as one regulatory category.