People Are Injecting What?!

When I think of injectables I think of Botox, Filler not Salmon Sperm, yep you read that right people In 2024 are Injecting Salmon Sperm into their face. This was not on my 2024 bingo card this year. But with Kim Kardashian at the forefront of this new aesthetics treatment I am not surprised at how wacky this is. But let’s put this Geeky Brain to good use and dive in.

The Salmon “Sperm” we are talking about is more of a Salmon DNA chain, so no Kim Kardashian is not actually putting sperm in her face, it’s the DNA extracted from the sperm cells themselves. The DNA chain’s proper name is Polynucleotides (PN) which is just a mix of DNA and RNA. When it gets harvested for injections they are called an injectable bio-stimulator. Which is a fancy term for saying that the stretchy molecules from the fish’s fragments are very similar or mirror human DNA. That’s why they picked salmon instead of a bear or frog, because the DNA from the Salmon would be able to react and communicate with our own cells to increase more collagen and elastin production. Collagen and Elastin production are essential fibroblasts in the skin that are vital in giving it structure and that youthful glow.

Photo by: NPS Climate Change Response²

Benefits

When I am reading about treatments or products that claim they help increase collagen and elastin production, it is typically used to treat anything from fine lines and wrinkles to scarring. Let’s look at some of the benefits.

Stimulates Cell Turnover: Which enhances the skin’s repair system and helps produce new skin faster.
Anti-Aging: Reduces the look of fine line and wrinkles by producing more collagen and elastin.
Antioxidant Properties: Helps reduce the look of hyperpigmentation and helps prevent more from being created.
Scar Reduction: Minimizes the look of scars by promoting skin regeneration.

Just naming a few benefits from this treatment, and from what I have investigated. Providers claim that these PN injections can promote skin regeneration and repair. Because they boost collagen and elastin production by increasing those types of cells counts, the skin is then able to improve tissue regeneration (helps with scars and wrinkles) and restoring elasticity (firmness in the skin). With the cell renewal process increasing, we are also able to get rid of the sun damage and any inflammation in the skin, because we are getting rid of the dead skin cells that sit at the top layer and creating a new layer at a much faster rate. Which helps with the look of younger, hydrated, healthy skin.

With this treatment, they are looking to treat fine lines and wrinkles, by injecting them in those areas, but because this product is absorbable into our skin its doesn’t just sit there in the skin. My suggestion (but please listen to the provider) would be to use it under the eyes, to help with dark circles and fine lines. Another treatment would be to treat acne scars or stretch marks.

Possible Side Effects

People who should avoid this treatment:

Anyone who is Pregnant or Breastfeeding
Anyone with autoimmune diseases or active skin infections
Anyone with an allergy to fish especially salmon
Anyone under the age of 25

The last point is because I feel like it is unnecessary to start with the anti-aging treatment (especially with injectables), it is a big jump, but if you are looking to start preventing the signs of aging talk with your local esthetician or dermatologist to recommend you topical skincare products to help slow down this process. Before even considering any form of injectable treatment always talk with your provider first, they know your skin and your needs better than I do.

Let’s get into the Downsides of these Salmon “Sperm” Injections:

Every product that is claiming to be the fountain of youth is going to have a cost. Unfortunately, magic does come at a very expensive price. The average cost I found was between $300 – $600 USD per session. What do I mean by per session? Is it not just a one and done treatment? It’s not because the DNA from the salmon is interacting with our own to increase collagen production, that process takes time and to get an effective treatment and great results you need 1 – 3 sessions spread out about 2 – 4 weeks apart. Then there is maintenance, where you probably need to go through the same process at least 1 time each year. Which adds up to a hefty chunk of money each year.

Other downsides include:

Allergic Reactions: Only possible for people who are allergic to Salmon or Fish
Bruising or Swelling: Temporary effects with all injections, typically is only seen at the injection site (forehead, cheeks, etc.)
Limited Data: There is limited scientific data, there is not enough evidence to support these claims, and there is a lack of knowledge on other known side effects.
Very Limited Resources on How the DNA is Harvested

The last item on that list is leading to my next analysis on this treatment is the Ethics of it. Since Salmon is so far as we know the best candidate to match closely to our DNA to be able to make these changes in our skin, It flags a couple of questions in my brain. How is this sperm harvested? Is it ethical? Is P.E.T.A having a field day with this?

How is it Sourced?

According to a patent for a method for extracting “High-Purity Polydeoxyribonucleotide From Salmon” is:

They separate the semen from the by gently massaging the immature spermary regions
Then they dilute with artificial seminal plasma
Then they treat the diluent with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG which is a hormone created by women during pregnancy) to mature the sperm cells
After they wait 10min – 1hr for the sperm cells to mature, they extract the PN from the collected sperm.

They also made edits to the patent to mention they collect the Salmon from a 10km river upstream. They don’t mention what they do after, but I think it’s more up to the company wanting to use this method of extraction to make their products. Ethics should matter in this industry, and we should not be cutting corners, especially when it comes to collecting materials for animals and fish. It is always a best rule of thumb to ask your provider how the brand collects their ingredients and make your own informed decision on continuing with that treatment.

Other Alternatives?

After this dive into Salmon “Sperm” Injections, I always ask the question of is there another thing out here like this, that is a cheaper option? Because let’s face it getting injections is not a cheap thing to do. Especially if this treatment is new and there is not a lot of science backing these claims of anti-aging. Keeping on theme with the Salmon… could you get these same results overtime if you eat more salmon? The benefits of eating salmon are that they are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which help with skin hydration and elasticity by supporting the skin barrier and reducing inflammation. They have the protein content which is the building blocks for collagen and elastin production. Good source of vitamin D and selenium which promote overall skin health and protect against oxidative stress, as well as having Astaxanthin, which helps fight free radical damage (pollutants, Sun damage, etc.) So, eating salmon can help with overall ski health and help reduce the signs of aging, the only downside to this method for it to be even comparable to the injections is that you would probably need to eat salmon every day for every meal, snack, and dessert if you want instant results.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion of my little research, I have found that Salmon “Sperm” injections are a new wave of anti-aging treatments. The benefits do seem promising, but with lack of scientific research on the benefits, I am a little skeptical about whether they work. If you are considering getting this treatment, I would always advise you to talk with your provider to see if you are a candidate and do your own research. I would investigate how the sperm is extracted and harvested from that brand. I did not investigate all the brands or products that use salmon sperm, so ask your provider about the company.

It is crazy how people come up with these ideas, being apart of this industry and watching it grow always amazes me.

Comment below if you would try this treatment or have done it already I would love to hear your thoughts!