Salmon sperm to bird droppings: The science behind bizarre skincare trends

A flurry of bizarre beauty therapies are trending on social media. But does the scientific research suggest they can be taken at face value? At the You & I Clinic in Seoul, South Korea, one of the most requested skin texture treatments involves injecting tiny fragments of DNA from salmon sperm into the dermis, the skin's thick middle layer which houses the blood vessels, nerves and glands. "The goal is not volume, like a filler, but skin priming or biostimulation, which involves supporting a healthier dermal environment and recovery," says Kyu‑Ho Yi, an aesthetic physician at the clinic and an adjunct professor at Yonsei University. The idea might seem bizarre, but Yi says the concept actually originates from the world of regenerative medicine and wound healing, where DNA fragments from fish gained attention for their potential to stimulate tissue repair in people with facial scars from combat injuries. Scientific data remains relatively sparse, but some studies suggest that the treatments – which harness the salmon sperm's purified polynucleotides – may help reduce the appearance of fine lines. They've been shown "to help improve skin hydration, plumpness, texture and wrinkles", s