Will PDRN Help With Acne? What It Can and Can't Do

This guide answers one question: whether PDRN can treat active acne breakouts; for acne-prone skin, marks and scars, read is PDRN good for acne.

Short answer: Not on its own. PDRN does not target the main causes of acne: excess oil, blocked pores and acne bacteria. Its calming, repair-supporting effects may help skin irritated by acne treatments, and clinic-delivered PDRN shows early promise for acne scars. For breakouts, proven treatments such as benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids and azelaic acid work better.

Will PDRN help with acne? PDRN is marketed as calming and healing, so it is natural to wonder whether it can clear spots. The honest answer is that it may help around the edges of acne, but not at its core. This guide explains why, where PDRN can genuinely help, and which treatments to use for breakouts. For acne-prone skin and scars more broadly, see is PDRN good for acne.

Key takeaways

• PDRN has no known effect on oil production, blocked pores or acne bacteria, and there are no good trials of topical PDRN for active acne.

• Its anti-inflammatory and repair effects[1] may help comfort while you use proven treatments.

• Small clinic studies suggest injected or laser-assisted PDRN may help acne scars[2,3].

• In the UK, benzoyl peroxide is available from pharmacies; topical retinoids and medicinal azelaic acid need a prescription[6].

What causes acne?

Acne develops when four things combine:

• Excess sebum (oil), often driven by hormones

• Blocked pores, as dead skin cells stick together inside the follicle

• Overgrowth of acne bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes) in blocked pores

• Inflammation, which turns blocked pores into red, painful spots

Effective treatments target one or more of these. Retinoids unblock pores, benzoyl peroxide reduces bacteria, and azelaic acid helps with several factors at once.

What the evidence says PDRN can and cannot do for acne

PDRN's main mechanism is activating adenosine A2A receptors, which is linked to calmer inflammation and better tissue repair[1]. That is why it has been studied for wounds and scars. But there are no good clinical trials showing that topical PDRN reduces the number of active spots.

Where PDRN may help acne-prone skin

Calming irritation from acne treatments

Retinoids and benzoyl peroxide often cause dryness, stinging and peeling, and the NHS suggests azelaic acid as an alternative when their side effects are particularly irritating[6]. A gentle, fragrance-free PDRN serum or gel may make skin feel more comfortable and help you keep going with a treatment that works. In this role PDRN is a support act, not the main treatment.

Supporting recovery after spots heal

Because of its repair-supporting properties, PDRN is sometimes used to help skin recover after spots and after clinical treatments for acne marks. Evidence for topical use here is limited[5].

Acne scars, in a clinic

This is where the evidence is most interesting, although it is still early:

• In a randomised study of 17 people with acne scars, PDRN injections improved scars, and combining them with intradermal botulinum toxin gave the best results[2].

• A conference case series of three patients reported better scar improvement on the sides treated with topical PDRN after fractional CO2 laser[3]. Three patients cannot establish an effect, but it supports further research.

• A randomised split-face trial comparing PDRN with hyaluronic acid after subcision for rolling acne scars was recruiting in 2026[4].

These studies are small and done in clinics. They do not show that a PDRN serum at home will reduce scars.

Pharmacist’s tip: If you are buying a "calming" serum to use with an acne treatment, choose one without fragrance or essential oils, and add it to your routine before you start the acne treatment so you know it suits you.

When PDRN is the wrong choice for acne

• If you have active, inflamed acne and want it gone, PDRN alone will disappoint you.

• If you have moderate or severe acne, painful nodules, scarring or acne that affects your mood, see your GP. The NHS advises this, and a GP can refer you to a dermatologist if needed[6].

• If your skin breaks out easily with rich products, choose a light, fragrance-free PDRN formula and patch test. See will PDRN cause acne.

What works for active acne in the UK

NICE recommends a 12-week course of a first-line treatment for acne, such as a topical combination of adapalene with benzoyl peroxide, with stronger options including oral antibiotics for more severe acne[7]. Options include:

Topical retinoids are not suitable in pregnancy[6]. A pharmacist can help with over-the-counter options and tell you when to see your GP.

Can PDRN help with acne redness?

Possibly, a little. PDRN's anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory studies[1] makes it a reasonable choice for skin that looks red and irritated, especially when that redness comes from dryness or treatment side effects. But redness from active, inflamed spots needs the spots treated. Red marks that linger after spots heal (post-inflammatory erythema) usually fade over months, and daily sunscreen helps stop marks from darkening.

When to see a pharmacist or GP about acne

The NHS suggests starting with a pharmacist for mild acne with a few blackheads, whiteheads and spots, and seeing a GP if[6]:

• your acne is moderate or severe

• pharmacy treatment has not worked

• you have painful nodules, scarring or a risk of scarring

• your acne is making you feel very low or anxious

A GP can prescribe stronger treatments and refer you to a dermatologist when needed[6,7]. Getting effective treatment early is the best way to prevent scars, which are much harder to treat later.

A sample routine using PDRN with acne treatment

• Morning: gentle cleanser, light PDRN serum or gel, oil-free moisturiser, sunscreen.

• Evening: gentle cleanser, your acne treatment as directed, then a light PDRN gel or moisturiser if your skin feels dry.

• Introduce one new product at a time, about two weeks apart, so you can tell what helps and what irritates.

If your acne treatment is a retinoid, early spots may be a purge rather than a reaction; see will PDRN cause purging.

The bottom line

PDRN will not clear acne by itself, because it does not target oil, blocked pores or bacteria. It may help acne-prone skin by calming irritation while you use proven treatments, and clinic-delivered PDRN looks promising for acne scars. If your acne is persistent, painful or scarring, speak to a pharmacist or your GP.

FAQs

Can PDRN replace my acne cream?

No. Keep using your acne treatment and add PDRN only as a soothing step if you need one.

Does PDRN help with acne marks?

Early clinic studies suggest a possible benefit for scars and marks[2,3]. Topical evidence is limited. Daily sunscreen helps stop marks darkening.

Can I use PDRN while on isotretinoin?

Isotretinoin makes skin very dry. A gentle, fragrance-free PDRN product may feel soothing, but check with your prescriber before adding new products.

Is PDRN antibacterial?

There is no good evidence that PDRN kills acne bacteria.

Is PDRN or retinol better for acne?

Retinoids are an established acne treatment recommended by NICE[7]; PDRN is not. See is PDRN retinol.

Related reading

• Is PDRN Good for Acne? Acne-Prone Skin, Scars and Marks

• Will PDRN Cause Acne? Why You Might Break Out and What to Do

• Will PDRN Cause Purging? Purge vs Breakout Explained

• Is PDRN Retinol? PDRN vs Retinol and Using Them Together

References

• Squadrito F, Bitto A, Irrera N, et al. Pharmacological activity and clinical use of PDRN. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2017;8:224.

• Park M, Hwang S, Hwang JK, et al. Air-botulinum neurotoxin and polydeoxyribonucleotide injections for acne scar treatment. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025;49(23):6668–6674.

• Fernandez MD, Geraldez-Rivera A. Efficacy and safety of fractional CO2 laser with topical PDRN for acne scars in Filipino patients: a case series. IMCAS conference abstract. Accessed October 2026.

• ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT07547956: subcision with PDRN versus non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid for rolling acne scars. 2026.

• Akaberi SM, Sharma K, Ahmadi-Ashtiani HR, Hedayati M. Polydeoxyribonucleotide in skincare and cosmetics: mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and advancements beyond wound healing and anti-aging. J Skin Stem Cell. 2025.

• NHS. Acne: treatment. Accessed October 2026.

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Acne vulgaris: management (NG198). 2021.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from a pharmacist, GP or other qualified healthcare professional. If you have a reaction or a medical concern, seek professional advice.