If you remember when Kim Kardashian famously put breastmilk on her psoriasis patches to help them heal, you know the reality star, entrepreneur, and Skims founder is no stranger to fringe health and beauty trends—especially ones that claim to improve your skin. The latest one Kardashian is trying out? Salmon sperm facials. Yes, you read that right. On a recent episode of The Kardashians, Kardashian told mom Kris Jenner about the treatment, saying “I got a salmon sperm facial, with salmon sperm injected into my face.”
While this may seem odd (and like something only mega-celebrities can afford or have access to), salmon sperm—i.e., sperm DNA derived from salmon testicles—isn’t a new ingredient. In countries like Korea, salmon sperm can often be found in over-the-counter skin-care products, identified in the ingredients list as PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotides) or salmon DNA. Topically, it’s said to be a gentle skin-soother and low-level anti-inflammatory. But what about internally? Is it actually safe to inject salmon sperm into your skin—and does it even work? We tapped a board-certified dermatologist to find out.
What a salmon sperm facial does for skin
Research suggests polynucleotides (like those found in fish sperm) may target a protein in your skin that helps promote wound-healing and tissue regeneration. It’s also thought to stimulate collagen production and improve skin elasticity, per a small March 2010 study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.
Nucleofill and Pluryal Silk are two popular brands of polynucleotide injectables found internationally, in countries like Korea and Australia. “In other places, like in Asia, people are using [polynucleotides] in place of skin-boosters—almost like filler,” says Karan Lal, DO, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist with Affiliated Dermatology in Arizona. But instead of injecting it deep into your skin like you would with filler, polynucleotides are injected into the superficial layers of your face to help soften the look of fine lines and give your skin a brighter look, Dr. Lal says.
Is the salmon sperm facial safe?
This is up for debate. While there are promising findings on the benefits of polynucleotides, there isn’t enough solid evidence to say that salmon sperm, in particular, is effective or entirely safe. In fact, these injections are not currently FDA-approved, and are not widely available in the U.S.
“If something’s not FDA-approved, there’s no real regulation on it,” says Dr. Lal. “You don’t know where the source is coming from, if it’s sterile or not.” Dr. Lal also expresses concern over increased risk of infection, the manufacturing process, and side effects, particularly if you’re allergic to fish or shellfish. “Personally, I’m not comfortable offering it [to patients],” he adds. “It’s trendy because it sounds cool, but it’s not necessary, and we don’t have enough safety data yet.”
The bottom line
While it’s unclear where Kardashian got her treatment done, it’s safe to say the celeb’s newest beauty foray sparked interest. That said, because there’s little evidence about how safe (or well) salmon sperm facials actually work, most docs (Dr. Lal included) say sticking with tried-and-tested skin repair options is best—like vitamin C serums or retinoids. He even says PRP “vampire facial” are much better treatments, because it uses your own blood. “When injecting something into your skin, you need to think twice,” Dr. Lal says.
For now, we’ll leave the salmon sperm for Kim K.