Out of every ten patients who walk through my consultation room door, seven ask first: "Doctor, I know Rejuran delivers great results, but is it really painfully tear-inducing?" Today, I would like to clarify these concerns regarding Rejuran. I am Dr. HUH Jung, Representative Director of Ruby Dermatology Clinic.

While Rejuran Healer is indeed notorious for procedure-related discomfort, understanding the precise medical mechanisms behind the pain, refining pre-treatment numbing care, and optimizing manual injection techniques allow patients to undergo the procedure comfortably without needing general anesthesia (sleep sedation). Selecting the ideal formulation among Rejuran Healer, Rejuran HB Plus, and Rejuran i based on your skin condition and pain tolerance is also a critical clinical factor

3-Line Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

• Efficacy & Mechanism: Polynucleotide (PN) extracted from wild salmon DNA enhances dermal density, fundamentally restoring damaged skin barriers and deep-layer hydration.
• Root Causes of Pain & Management: Discomfort arises from a combination of mechanical pressure caused by high-viscosity gel expanding the tight dermal layer and chemical stimulation from differences in pH and osmolarity relative to bodily fluids. Pain is significantly mitigated using nano-needles, gate-control vibration devices, and Occlusive Dressing Therapy (ODT).
• Recommended Protocol & Synergies: A course of 3 sessions at 3–4 week intervals maintains dermal density for over 6 months; pairing with LDM Water-Drop Lifting or Micro-Botox (Skin Botox) accelerates recovery and maximizes skin texture refinement.

A. How Rejuran Healer Restores the Skin

The core active ingredient in Rejuran Healer is Polynucleotide (PN), a high-molecular-weight DNA fragment extracted from salmon germ cells. Unlike standard skinboosters that simply offer temporary hydration, PN actively remodels the microenvironment of the dermal layer.

• Primary Benefit 1 (Skin Barrier Reconstruction): Increases the thickness and structural density of a thinned, compromised dermis, restoring the skin's self-regenerative capacity.
• Primary Benefit 2 (Deep Hydration & Oil-Water Balance): Enhances internal moisture retention and regulates sebum production, treating inner dryness at its root.
• Primary Benefit 3 (Redness Reduction & Resilience): Calms inflammatory responses in hypersensitive skin, relieving persistent erythema (redness).

B. Suitability Criteria (Who Benefits Most?)

1. Recommended Candidates

• Patients experiencing severe inner tightness (inner dryness) regardless of rich moisturizing cream application.
• Individuals with thin, inelastic skin prone to fine lines or compromised skin barriers.
• Patients whose skin flushes or becomes sensitized easily during seasonal changes or due to environmental stressors.

2. Alternative Treatments Recommended

• Patients seeking targeted filling of deep depressed scars or localized volume replacement (JuveLook Volume or hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are better suited).

C. The Dual Causes of Rejuran Pain (Physical & Chemical Factors)

Rejuran injections cause distinct stinging and sharp discomfort due to two primary factors:

1. Chemical Stimulation (pH & Osmolarity Discrepancies): As the formulation enters skin tissue, differences in pH and osmotic pressure compared to natural interstitial fluid excite nerve endings, triggering a characteristic burning, sharp sensation.
2. Physical Pressure (High Viscosity & Dermal Mechanics): Unlike watery liquid injectables, Rejuran is a high-viscosity gel. When forced into the tightly packed upper dermis—where sensory nerve endings are concentrated—the gel mechanically expands tissue, inducing pressure pain.

D. Ruby Dermatology Clinic’s 3-Step Pain Management Protocol

1. Occlusive Dressing Therapy (ODT) Anesthesia: Rather than simply applying topical numbing cream, an occlusive wrap is applied over the cream to maximize transdermal penetration, ensuring deep dermal anesthesia over at least 30 minutes.
2. Ultra-Fine Nano-Needles: Utilizing specialized nano-needles significantly finer than standard hypodermic needles minimizes primary puncture pain as the needle pierces the epidermis.
3. Gate Control Vibration Disruption: High-frequency, subtle vibration is simultaneously applied adjacent to the injection site to disrupt and block pain signal transmission along neural pathways to the brain.

(For patients with extreme pain sensitivity, switching to Rejuran HB Plus—which contains local anesthetic Lidocaine—serves as an excellent alternative).

E. Treatment Intervals and Duration

• Onset of Effect: Papules (embossing) flatten within 3 to 5 days. Softening of skin texture and relief from inner dryness become noticeably apparent between weeks 1 and 2.
• Recommended Course: 3 consecutive sessions spaced 3–4 weeks apart.
• Longevity: Completing a 3-session protocol elevates baseline dermal structural density, maintaining results for 6 months to nearly a full year.

F. Rejuran Product Line Comparison

ParameterRejuran Healer (Original)

• Active Ingredients

100% PN (Polynucleotide)

• Pain Level

Moderate to High

• Target Indications

Full face, severely damaged skin barrier

• Key Advantage

Standard baseline for fundamental dermal reconstruction

Rejuran HB Plus

• Active Ingredients

PN + Hyaluronic Acid + Lidocaine

• Pain Level

Low to Moderate (>50% pain reduction)

• Target Indications

Pain-sensitive patients, extreme inner dryness

• Key Advantage

Anesthetic inclusion for comfortable administration & instant moisture boost

Rejuran i

• Active Ingredients

PN (Lower Viscosity)

• Pain Level

Low to Moderate

• Target Indications

Delicate periorbital area, fine under-eye lines

• Key Advantage

Lower viscosity minimizes papules/bruising; targets dark circles and periorbital texture

G. Synergistic Combination Therapies

• Rejuran Healer + LDM Water-Drop Ultrasound:Administering LDM ultrasound ultrasound immediately after Rejuran rapidly calms erythema and papules while accelerating dermal absorption and maximizing hydration synergy.
• Rejuran Healer + Micro-Botox (Skin Botox):Rejuran strengthens internal dermal tissue while Micro-Botox tightens surface pores and smooths superficial fine lines, delivering a dual "internal volume restoration + surface smoothing" effect.

H. Clinical Insights & Practitioner Notes (Dr. HUH Jung)

The clinical success of a Rejuran procedure hinges entirely on creating precise, uniform papules (embossing) within the correct dermal layer. Injecting too deeply into subcutaneous fat reduces pain but significantly impairs therapeutic efficacy; injecting too superficially causes product leakage onto the skin surface.

In practice, I maintain a consistent needle angle and injection depth using refined manual technique for every single puncture, confirming that distinct, firm, transparent papules form on the surface. Precise maintenance of injection depth is the core determinant in minimizing pain while guaranteeing consistent clinical outcomes.

For patients hesitant due to fear of pain, I recommend Rejuran HB Plus. For fine periorbital lines or thinned under-eye dark circles, I meticulously layer lower-viscosity Rejuran i. Pain should not be blindly endured; it can be fully controlled through accurate diagnosis, nano-needles, gate-control vibration techniques, and tailored product selection.

Aftercare and Post-Treatment Guidelines

• Day of Procedure: Raised papules (embossing) naturally flatten within 1–2 days as the solution absorbs. Do not press, massage, or squeeze the injection spots.
• Cleansing & Makeup: Light washing with water is permitted on the same day. Makeup should be applied starting the next day once injection points have closed.
• Recovery Care: Apply regenerating post-procedure creams and broad-spectrum sunscreen regularly to support dermal repair. Avoid saunas, hot baths, alcohol consumption, and intense exercise for one week.