Profhilo or polynucleotides: which skin booster is right for you?

If your skin has started to look tired, dull or a little crepey, but you are happy with the shape of your face, a skin booster is often the treatment that makes the most sense. Skin boosters improve the quality of the skin itself, its hydration, firmness and texture, without adding volume or changing your features.

At her clinic in Wymondham, near Norwich, Annie offers three: Profhilo, polynucleotides and Sunekos. They are often mentioned in the same breath, and people regularly ask which one they should have. This guide explains how they differ, so you can come to your consultation with a clearer idea of the options.

Skin boosters are not fillers

A dermal filler is designed to hold a shape: to lift a cheek, define a jawline or add volume to the lips. A skin booster is not. It is placed with small needles to improve the skin from within, and it works gradually as your skin responds over the following weeks. Your face still looks like yours, only fresher.

That makes skin boosters a good fit if your main concern is skin that looks dull and dehydrated, thin or crepey, rather than a loss of structure. You can read more about all three on our skin boosters page.

Profhilo: for laxity and firmness

Profhilo is a hyaluronic acid gel with one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid available in an injectable. Rather than staying in one place, it spreads gently beneath the skin, hydrating the tissue as it goes and stimulating the skin to counteract laxity.

It is used on the face, neck, décolletage and the backs of the hands, which are often the areas where loose, crepey skin shows first. It is a common starting point for people who feel their skin has lost some of its firmness.

• Given through a small number of injections at set points
• Usually a course of two treatments, around four weeks apart, to begin with
• Improvements develop over four to eight weeks
• £275 per treatment

Polynucleotides: for skin health and the eye area

Polynucleotides are made from highly purified DNA fragments from salmon or trout. They work as a kind of nourishment for the skin's cells, stimulating collagen and elastin and supporting the framework that holds the skin together. Where Profhilo is mostly about hydration and firmness, polynucleotides are more about the overall health and resilience of the skin.

They are used on the face, neck and hands, and are particularly popular for the delicate skin around the eyes. If your concern is tired eyes and dark circles, they are often one of the first treatments Annie will talk you through.

• Three treatments are recommended for the best results
• Sessions are usually spaced two to three weeks apart
• The best results are seen at around four weeks after treatment
• £250 per treatment, or £500 for three treatments

Because they are derived from fish, polynucleotides are not suitable if you have a fish or seafood allergy. Annie checks this at your consultation and will suggest an alternative if needed.

Where Sunekos fits in

Sunekos is a third option worth knowing about. It combines hyaluronic acid with amino acids, the building blocks of collagen and elastin, and is especially popular for thin, crepey skin under the eyes. It is given as a course of sessions, usually three to four, one to two weeks apart. Full results are seen after three months.

Sunekos is priced at £180 per session for the eyes, or £380 for a course of three, and £250 for the face, or £480 for a course of three.

So which one is right for you?

As a general guide:

• If your main concern is laxity across the face, neck, chest or hands, Profhilo is often the starting point
• If you want to improve the overall quality and resilience of your skin, or treat the eye area, polynucleotides may suit you better
• If crepey skin under the eyes is what bothers you most, Sunekos is another option to consider
• If you have a fish allergy, polynucleotides are ruled out, and Profhilo or Sunekos may be suggested instead

Some people benefit from a combination, for example Profhilo for the face and neck with polynucleotides around the eyes. If your concern is a deeper loss of structure rather than skin quality, a biostimulator may be discussed instead, and if you want something lighter focused on glow and hydration, mesotherapy is another option.

All skin boosters work gradually, so the change is subtle and natural, and results vary from person to person. Most people have maintenance treatments to keep the benefits going once their course is complete.

What to expect on the day

Each treatment begins with your medical history and a look at your skin. The skin is cleansed, then the product is placed with a series of small injections. Small raised bumps at the injection points are normal and usually settle within a day or two. Some mild swelling, redness or occasional bruising is possible.

Afterwards, avoid touching the injection points for the rest of the day, skip makeup over them for twelve hours, and avoid alcohol, strenuous exercise, saunas and steam rooms for 24 hours. You can see every price side by side on our prices page.

Let Annie help you decide

You do not need to work this out on your own. Annie Spelman is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and independent prescriber with over 20 years of nursing experience, specialising in women's health and skin, and she carries out every treatment herself. At your free consultation she will look at your skin, ask what bothers you most and recommend the skin booster, or combination, that makes sense for you. If she does not think you need a treatment, she will tell you.

Ready to find out which skin booster suits you? Book online at any time, or start with a free consultation at The Orange Grove Clinic in Wymondham.

General information, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Suitability is decided in person after an assessment, and the consultation for that is free.