"I heard Rejuran is salmon DNA — so if I have a salmon allergy, can I not get it?"
"Aren't Rejuran and water glow the same thing? They're both injections."
This is the first point where people looking into Rejuran get confused.
Hello, we're Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong ^^
We're set to open in Myeongdong soon, and since so many people are curious about Rejuran, I wanted to lay it out first as a matter of information ahead of our opening.
Let me start with the key point. Rejuran isn't a procedure that "fills hydration or creates volume" — it's closer to one that "supports the skin's regenerative environment."
Read for just 3 minutes and you'll have a clear standard for whether Rejuran fits your skin concern.
Rejuran Is Not 'Salmon DNA with the Protein Removed'
Rejuran's core ingredient is a substance called PN, polynucleotide.
Because this is commonly called 'salmon DNA,' misunderstandings arise — but to be precise, it's made by purifying solely the DNA component from salmon milt.
A question that comes up a lot here is, "So isn't it dangerous if I have a salmon allergy?" Because the purification process filters out components like the proteins that trigger allergies, you can think of it as a separate matter from a salmon allergy. (Still, if you're worried about a history of allergies, please be sure to mention it during your consultation.)
To put it simply, it's not that something is extracted whole from salmon and used — rather, only the needed component is selected and filtered out, which makes it easy to understand ㅎㅎ
You Say It's the Same as 'PDRN'? Actually, It's Different
When you search for Rejuran, it's often introduced bundled together with the term 'PDRN.'
But PN and PDRN are separate ingredients, differing by a single letter.
Both are indeed DNA-derived, but PN is the one with the longer chain. Their MFDS classifications differ too: Rejuran (PN) is classified as a tissue-repair biomaterial (medical device), while PDRN falls under wound-healing drugs.
So if you think of 'PDRN cream' or 'PDRN injection' as the same thing as Rejuran and compare them, what you expect may not line up.
It's an easy spot to get confused because the names are similar, so it's good to confirm what the ingredient is before the procedure.
Rejuran Is 'Regeneration' — Its Purpose Differs from Water Glow and Filler
This is the part people get most confused about, so let me point it out separately.
Even though injecting into the dermis with a needle looks similar, what it's injected for is different.
Water glow injection fills "hydration" with hyaluronic acid, while filler or Juvelook creates "volume" in hollow areas or stimulates collagen.
Rejuran (PN), on the other hand, is known for supporting a "regenerative environment" so the skin can recover its own condition. Rather than instantly filling a parched feeling or pulling up contours, think of it as firming up the skin's foundation.
That's why we recommend you first look at "whether my skin urgently needs hydration, volume, or overall recovery right now." Even with the same injection, the answer differs. (There may be individual differences)
Healer, HB, I, S — the Types Are Divided by 'Area and Purpose'
Not all Rejuran is the same; there are a few types. No need to memorize them — it becomes simple if you look at "where, and for what."
- Rejuran Healer is the most basic form, a product focused on regeneration.
- Rejuran HB adds hyaluronic acid (a hydrating ingredient) to the Healer, so it's considered for dry skin that wants hydration along with regeneration.
- Rejuran I (Eye) is a soft formulation tailored to the thin skin around the eyes, the type to consider when fine lines around the eyes are your concern.
- Rejuran S (Skin) is a formulation made to stay longer at scar sites, used for concerns like acne scars.
These types are divided not as a matter of better or worse, but to choose according to area and concern. So rather than deciding on a product name first, the proper order is to pinpoint what your concern is through an assessment. (There may be individual differences)
Honestly, It's Not a Procedure That Transforms You in One Go
When you look in the mirror after one Rejuran session, you might think, "Huh, it didn't change as much as I expected?"
To be honest, Rejuran isn't a procedure that changes dramatically in a single shot — it's a maintenance-type procedure where you usually receive it in several sessions at 2–4 week intervals, building up the skin texture bit by bit.
And since it's an injection-based procedure, small marks, bruising, or swelling can occur at the injection sites. These usually subside within a few days, but if you have an important event, it's safer to receive it with about a week to spare.
Picture moistening soil at regular intervals to revive it, rather than dumping all the water on a field at once, and it'll click. It's a procedure you have to view as a process over several sessions, rather than a single change. (There may be individual differences)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do you see results right away after Rejuran?
A. Rejuran is less a procedure where your appearance suddenly transforms, and more one known for supporting the skin's regenerative environment. So rather than expecting a dramatic change in one go, you should view it as a process where you receive it in several sessions at 2–4 week intervals, building up the skin texture bit by bit. Many people receive it intensively at spaced intervals for the first few sessions, then continue the cycle while watching their condition. That said, the number of sessions and intervals needed vary with your skin condition and the type, so rather than fixing on "how many" in advance, it's more fitting to adjust while watching the response.
Q. What's the difference between Rejuran and water glow injection?
A. Rejuran and water glow injection may look like the same injection, but they differ in purpose. Water glow injection fills the skin with "hydration" using hyaluronic acid, while Rejuran is the kind that supports a "regenerative environment" with its PN ingredient so the skin recovers on its own. To put it simply, water glow is like watering dry soil, while Rejuran is closer to firming up the soil itself to revive the foundation. So if your foremost concern is deep dryness, you'd look at water glow, and if your concern is overall condition recovery, you'd look at Rejuran — the direction splits that way. The two aren't competitors but procedures with different roles depending on your concern.
Q. I heard Rejuran is salmon DNA — is it okay even if I have a salmon allergy?
A. Rejuran's PN ingredient is made by purifying solely the DNA component from salmon milt, and the purification process filters out components like the proteins that trigger allergies. So you can think of it as a separate matter from the worry that "you can't get it if you have a salmon allergy." It's also said to be 'salmon DNA with the protein removed,' but to be precise, you should understand it as only the needed DNA component being selected and purified. That said, if you're worried about a history of allergies or a particular constitution, please be sure to mention it during your consultation before the procedure. That's how we can set a safe direction.
In Closing — We Recommend It for People Like This
If I sum up today's content in one line, it's this.
Myeongdong Rejuran — it supports the 'skin's regenerative environment' rather than hydration or volume, and you should view it across several sessions rather than one.
If parched, deep dryness is your foremost concern, look at water glow first; if lost volume is your concern, look at filler or Juvelook; and if overall condition recovery is your concern, look at Rejuran first.
That said, if deep sagging or contour is your concern, a method other than Rejuran may be a better fit. In that case, it's right to set the direction together during an assessment.
This article isn't meant to recommend a procedure; it's an informational article put together as a matter of information while preparing to open.
DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. We'll share opening news and clinic information first on our blog and Instagram ^^
Thank you for reading to the end. This has been Director Kwon Si-jin & Yoon Ju-hyun at DA Clinic Myeongdong.
This column is an informational article intended to provide general medical information; the effects and side effects of any procedure may vary by individual. DA Clinic Myeongdong is set to open soon. (Medical Service Act Art. 56)