Hidden sleep danger could increase risk of 172 diseases, major study reveals
In a major new study led by teams from Peking University and Army Medical University, sleep irregularity has been linked to an increased risk of 172 different diseases.
The researchers analyzed nearly seven years of UK Biobank sleep data from 88,461 adults averaging 62 years of age, focusing on multiple traits that included nocturnal sleep duration, sleep onset timing, sleep rhythm and sleep fragmentation, according to a press release.
They then compared that data to disease outcomes from the National Health Service, the Cancer Registry and the National Death Index.
They found that for 92 diseases — Parkinson's disease and acute kidney failure — 20% of the risk was tied to poor sleep behavior.
Forty-two diseases were linked to at least double the risk. Those included age-related frailty, gangrene, and fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver.
Poor sleep traits were linked to 1.5 times the risk of 122 diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, respiratory failure, certain bone fractures and urinary incontinence.
Inflammatory pathways were identified as one possible link between irregular sleep and disease.
"Some common diseases showed considerable attributable risk, such as Parkinson's disease, pulmonary heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism) and urinary incontinence," the researchers wrote.
The results were published in the journal Health Data Science.
"Our findings underscore the overlooked importance of sleep regularity," said Prof. Shengfeng Wang, senior author of the study, in the release. "It's time we broaden our definition of good sleep beyond just duration."
"It's time we broaden our definition of good sleep beyond just duration."
Ashley Curtis, PhD, assistant professor and director of the Cognition, Aging, Sleep, and Health (CASH) Lab in the College of Nursing at the University of South Florida, was not involved in the research but shared her reaction to the findings.
"This study contributes to the growing evidence supporting the critical role sleep plays as a key modifiable risk factor across a range of medical disorders, particularly in mid- to late-life," she told Fox News Digital.
"However, this study also emphasizes that how we measure sleep matters in terms of what conclusions we make regarding its impact on health across the lifespan."
Curtis highlighted the difference between self-reported sleep patterns versus objective measurements captured by wearable devices.
"Better understanding these patterns is important, because it can impact recommendations regarding what aspects of sleep we should be monitoring more closely in terms of assessing the risk of future declines in health," she said.
"Additionally, these findings provide insight into the specific physiological sleep-related mechanisms that may be driving comorbid disease trajectories."
The researchers noted several major limitations in this research.
The most prevalent is that the study is not representative of the nationwide population, as the participants were mainly middle-aged or elderly and therefore more susceptible to certain diseases.
The sleep data was also captured at only one single point in time.
There is also a chance that external factors or "reverse causation bias" affected the results, they stated.
Curtis echoed these limitations, noting that sleep was only measured across one seven-day time period and did not consider variability in sleep patterns over time.
"Further, there was a lack of consideration of sleep disorders, such as insomnia or sleep apnea," she told Fox News Digital.
"Given that both of these sleep disorders are highly prevalent in aging populations, there is a need for future studies that include a more comprehensive clinical assessment in order to fully elucidate the link between sleep disorder profiles and the risk of other medical comorbidities."
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
The research team plans to conduct future studies to confirm causality and to measure how sleep interventions may impact chronic disease outcomes.
The study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Beijing Municipal Health Development Research Fund.
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With a rapidly aging workforce, budgeting time and money for caregiving has become even more crucial for the average American. On this episode of Decoding Retirement, host Robert "Bob" Powell speaks with MIT AgeLab director Joe Coughlin, who shares his unique perspective on the advancements and challenges that await retirees. Coughlin also discusses the impact of unpaid caregiving on family finances, maintaining cash flow after retirement, and the financial benefits of residing in livable communities. Yahoo Finance's Decoding Retirement is hosted by Robert Powell. Find more episodes of Decoding Retirement at Because there is that coming care gap, whether our families are too busy or living at a distance, we're going to need that assistance. Technology is going to be a helping hand to make that happen. So while there are all kinds of science fiction things to creep us out, I am very optimistic that technology is going to enable us to live longer, better, healthier lives. The world is rapidly aging and given that the effects on caregiving, on transportation, on housing, on your retirement plan, they're changing rapidly as well. And here to talk with me about that is Doctor Joe Coughlin, he's the director of the MIT AIDS lab. Joe, welcome. Hey, it's great to be here, Bob. Thanks for having me. Oh, it's a pleasure. So, so two things, Joe. Our goal with with decoding retirement is to make this a person's first and last stop in their search for knowledge about retirement planning. So thank you for being here because you're going to help us accomplish that, that mission. Appreciate it. You're always a delight to work with and you know more than even most of the experts, so great totalk to you. Well, no one knows as much as you, and I want to start here, um, with caregiving and well-being. Um, it has been described at times as a $600 billion problem, especially when you think about all the unpaid caregivers in this country. Uh, you study caregiving, uh, lots to talk about there, right? Yep, no, absolutely. I mean, I want you to imagine this, Bob, in the United States or North America alone, 1 in 4 American families is providing upwards of 20 to 25 hours per week to care for an older loved one. That doesn't count children or people with special needs. So caregiving is, shall we say, a, a in the shadows, that is a right now a personal problem, but should become a public issue. what advice do you have for either people who are caregivers or perhaps even recipients of care? No, absolutely, you know, this is one of the things that retirement planning has, I don't wanna say it's completely dropped the ball, but it has defined it profoundly as only a financial if you are planning for your own retirement uh individually or as a couple, yes, absolutely, you're gonna need the financial wherewithal, the financial security to provide the care you need, even if your loved one is going to provide it. You know, the number one caregiver is typically your spouse, and sadly for you and I are more likely, Bob, sadly for our wives, it is more likely the wife caring for the husband. But after her is the adult so while both those caregivers, the, the spouse and the adult daughter would certainly appreciate and need a sort of robust financial uh plan and and and uh bank account, that's only part of it. In fact, I would even suggest it's only 50% of have to start planning out who's going to be providing the hands-on care. More likely than not, your spouse is going to need her own care, and your adult daughter, typically, even if you have adult sons, are going to be busy or distant or whatever it might be. So how are you?Going to fill in the gaps, everything from adult daycare to healthcare to home care, who's gonna do the little things? Perhaps as it advances to get you dressed to have feed, uh, you know, of food on the table or frankly, just to take out the trash on the simple yeah, financial security is part of it, but identifying, here's a scenario, Bob, identifying the person or service that you would trust to go into your mother's home when you're not there. Mom is 80 something years old, she's not cognitively as sharp as she once was. Physically may not be as well. Who do you trust to go in there to care for her?So it's not just a matter of having a bank account, it's a matter for having the actual service or the face that you would trust to do that. Yeah, um, you, you mentioned, uh, this, uh, notion of it's not a financial matter, but you've written recently, I think that families lose half their wealth in the eight years before a dementia diagnosis. Uh, obviously, so now it's twofold, right? It is financial and all the things that you just mentioned. Yeah, no, uh, some really good work done by my colleagues at the MIT Asia Lab, Luo Quinto, and folks at the AARP, Doctor Julie Miller, uh, came up with this metaphor of the leaky pipe, and years before the diagnosis of dementia, bad happen. Uh, you know, maybe bills are not paid, maybe, uh, crazy things are purchased, if you will, that are well without outside the budget. Sadly, maybe we become more susceptible to scams and seeing that money leak out, shall we say of that euphemistic so as we start to see caregiving as an issue, it starts far earlier than than we think. And it's not just a matter of like, oh, there's an issue, let's intervene. This is profoundly emotional. When do you have the, the, the courage and the opportunity to tell a spouse or a parent that, Dad, you're not quite OK, I need to step know, we fought for our independence as teenagers. We fight even more, shall we say, passionately as we are older. And so that's, it's a very hard spot where families find themselves in the crosshairs of emotional, physical, and financial stress. Yeah, I, I'm often fond of saying that as we age, right, our parents become our children and, and the children become the parents and uh someone needs to take charge of some of these decisions and, and maybe, uh,And, and maybe the places to do that in a family meeting perhaps. Yeah,in family meetings, but I have to tell you, Bob, I don't wanna uh get our, our viewers depressed, but I, I stumbled on some data that that really did depress estimates suggest that one quarter of families out there are estranged from their adult children. So as we talk about caregiving, one of the things that we've done at the labs, we've done research on, uh, who do you think is gonna take care of you? And without question, it's, well, my partner, my spouse, or my adult children. Well, by the way, only of the vast majority who said are going to care for them. Less than 30% actually had the conversation that that person knows they're going to care for them. But imagine where 1 in 4 or maybe even a little bit more than 1 in 4 are estranged, not talking, living at a distance from their loved ones. That means that we have a coming care gap in the United States that is going to make the current issue look, shall we say, like the norm, but the will be not just financial, it will be a profound public problem as well. Joe, I, I, I wanna, uh, let you know that my wife used to ask me how my day was, and she stopped doing that because I would quote something depressing news like you just said to us. And she said, I've had invitedto parties, right? I've had it with your depressing news. Um, talk a little bit about as we think about the future of homes and smart homes and perhaps social robots. Are, are we, are we on the verge of technology helping solve some of the problems here? You know, absolutely. My, my colleague Dr. Chai Wu Lee leads a whole program at the Asia Lab called Home Logistics or Home as Service. What you imagine now your home no longer simply a place to keep the rain off or a place to live, but frankly a platform of services. We found during COVID that all those little services that they crazy kids, the Gen Z younger millennials were doing life by app, became effectively a virtual assisted living for rides, for food delivery, telemedicine, pharma delivery, and the like. So with respect to robots and other technologies, so the so-called internet of things where shall we say,Everything begins to watch and everything begins to talk to itself. Yes, they are already here in small amounts. I would ask everyone listening to ask yourself how many strangers are in your house right now? I, you know, as you mentioned certain names, speakers may light up or that constant familiar face that knocks on your door and drops off a these services are already evolving, and I would suggest to you, Bob, that this is a new cost in retirement that no one is thinking about. It's not in anyone's line item, but yet it is part of the run rate of you mentioned robots, which is one of my favorite topics, because these technologies are shall we say, getting between cool and creepy. So yes, there will be robots out there that will be, uh, keeping you abreast of your favorite recipe, your favorite program, but also reminding you of your medication. Also maybe reminding you that in my case, Joe, you know, put the ice cream away, you might want to try a watermelon dessert also the social robots, some that will engage you in a game or to talk and can tell by the timbre of your voice. Are you well? Are you happy enough?But the part that's going to be coming soon, and I guess I would say soon is in a decade, maybe even less by some estimates, are going to be robots that actually do work around the house. So whether it's the, you know, the usual names like Figu or Tesla and others that are out there, they're envisioning robots probably for the cost of a medium sized car, medium sized will fold the laundry, clean the house, may even down the road be able to prepare your meal. And when I say it's the price of a car, I'm sure a lot of people are shuddering going, where the heck am I gonna get that amount of money? Well, think about the following. When people retire, one of the most, shall we say, popular retirement gifts, it's not just the the new car? I could see in about a decade or so people go, well, I got the car and now I've got the robot, or frankly, I think a lot of this will be by subscription. You may not own any of it, but you'll be paying on a monthly rate, which also has profound implications for your cash flow inretirement. Yeah. So, Joe, speaking of technology in the home, uh, we can't avoid talking about AI, artificial intelligence. Yeah, no, AI these days is the topic everywhere and about everything. It is definitely going to be ubiquitous in your retirement. Now we were talking about technology in the home, so AI is going to be, shall we say, seamless and as Arthur C. Clarke said, the best technology is that which is invisible and seemingly works like magic. Well, AI will be there to remind you of your meds. It'll be there to monitor. Are you sleeping late because you were out partying the night before, or you're not?Sleeping very well. Are you having your coffee later than usual? It'll enable your caregiver and a formal and family, if you will, to be able to intervene, to be proactive before there's an issue such as your gait has changed, your walk is a little different, you're likely to fall rather than having a house that says, oh my gosh, help, he's falling, he can't get once you're on the floor, we frankly have other issues. So AI is gonna be there to, shall we say, be a, a caregiver's aide, and augmented intelligence to age well. And of course, robots, when we talk about robots, most people think about the the physical nature of robots, but behind that physical thing of whatever they're doing is AI. Yeah. Uh, Joe, I, it, it would probably fair to say that you don't fear the future of technology. Uh, should average people, us mere mortals, fear this notion of a robot telling us to take our meds and whatnot, or should we relish this opportunity? I, I, I think, I think we should relish it on a number of fronts. One,Technology moves quickly for a few, but by the time it gets to most of us, many of the bugs have gotten out. Most of the time it's gotten more affordable, not always affordable, but more affordable. But the other issue is is that because there is that coming care gap, whetherOur families are too busy or living at a distance, we're going to need that assistance. If we want to stay in the homes where we that we love, you know, so-called the aging in place where our marriage, our mortgage and our memories are, technology is gonna be a helping hand to make that while there are all kinds of science fiction things to creep us out, I am very optimistic that technology is going to enable us to live longer, better, healthier lives. One thing, Bob, as a footnote though, we should start preparing for that being a new cost in we've never thought about it before, but suddenly start thinking of your subscriptions, your cell service, your speakers, your smart devices, and all the subscriptions you've signed up for for your refrigerator to talk to your toaster, to talk to your car, to have the food delivered. That's an invisible thing on your credit card that now needs a line item in your retirement plan. we're gonna take a short break and when we come back, we'll talk more about retirement planning, longevity planning, and transportation and livable communities. Don't go back to Decoding Retirement. I'm talking to Doctor Joe Coughlin. He's the director of the MIT AIDS lab and one of my favorite people in the world, because among other things, Joe, you get to see the future in ways that most people don't, so it's always a pleasure to talk to you about what we can expect and what we should be doing, you spend a lot of time thinking about transportation. I've had an opportunity to go to the MIT AI lab and drive Miss Daisy, although poorly, I must admit, I think I had a number of, uh, animated children as their balls went into the road. But, uh, transportation is a big issue. I, I think I might have mentioned in the past that I'm the, I'm the chair of our local senior center and, uh, by golly, it is, I think our number one issue is getting people to medical appointments or hairdressers or the grocery store and whatnot. So,What can we expect in the future as it pertains to transportation? Now, transportation, as you know, Bob, is one of my favorite topics. In fact, it is the very topic that got me into aging and retirement in the first place. I, uh, became a, shall we say, a sex in older drivers, an issue, uh, trapped somewhere between humor and horror in many transportation is one of those overlooked issues that people simply take for granted. Let's give us some context. Do you know that 70% of Americans over the age of 50 live either in suburban or rural areas where alternatives to driving either do not exist or they're just too difficult to use?Here's another little factory that few people think about, and by the way, even financial advisors get this wrong. What are the top three costs for a couple over 65? And immediately people yell out healthcare and housing. Well, they're not incorrect, but they are incomplete. Number 1 cost is housing, number 3 cost is health care, number 2 is so one of the things we also forget is that transportation is not just about getting you where you need to be, it is a vital part of quality of life. It's about getting to the things you want, the things that make you smile. You will get to the doctor's office. You will somehow get food delivered or you will get to the grocery as you know, Bob, one of my favorite uh uh stories I like to tell us, will you get an ice cream cone? Will you get the thing on a hot summer night that makes you smile that you don't need, you don't want to bother your adult daughter or a neighbor that you don't talk to on a regular basis, saying, hey, will you take me out to Dairy Queen for a saucer? That's not going to happen. But those little things are the things that make quality of life in older adulthood possible and so is one of the great missing links to a quality retirement plan and frankly in many of our communities. Yeah. Uh, so I want to turn my attention to, uh, my favorite topic, retirement and longevity planning, and obviously you spend as much time thinking about this as the other topics, so, uh, give us the brain dump. Well, I, I, I, this is gonna sound a lot to the audience like a word game, but I, I, I think if you think about it, you realize that it is not. There are many examples of very wealthy people out there who have not done very well in retirement. That is, they've not done very well in terms of caregiving or social connection or their, their health uh uh did not fare very they had a really strong bank account. What I'd like people to start thinking about is not simply retirement planning, but retirement preparation. So absolutely maintain that dedication and that discipline, if you will, to saving enough for financial security and advisors, employers and whatnot can help you with what that secret number might the difference between planning and preparing to make it always relate, in my case, Bob, as you know, always back to food, is kind of like grow is writing a shopping list. A shopping list is a until that food is in my cart, in my cabinet, or frankly on the stove, I'm not eating. So I would ask people to start connecting the money to what they're going to need. So if it's transportation, have you identified what those alternatives are going to be, who they're going, where those services are going to be, and how much they're going to cost? If you think about caregiving, having a long-term care plan or self annuitizing long term care makes infinite now that you got the checkbook, who's going to do it? What kind of services will you need? Do you even know what a geriatric care manager is to be able to integrate those things together to make it possible? So the difference between planning is the shopping list and having a checkbook. The preparation is actually having everything ready at the time of need, long before you need it. in retirement, Joe, and I think you've written recently about this topic about how to pivot when your retirement doesn't go as planned as as you've prepared for it. What, what do folks need to do? I mean, I look at retirement and I thinkUm, it's sort of like flying a plane, right? You just don't go from one point to another without making adjustments along the way. So whether it's an adjustment because of something that happened that was unplanned or something that happened that, uh, you just need to make adjustments for, but it's the unplanned things, the unexpected things that people really needed to prepare themselves for, right? Like yesterday won't be the same as tomorrow, uh, per se, right?Or tomorrow won't be the same as yesterday. You know, what's really funny, Bob, is if you think about the whole area of people that are entering it soon or already in there are frankly uh uh on a new frontier of retirement. Our parents, our grandparents, uh, not only had different financial strategies either uh because they, you know, they had uh defined benefits or or the like, frankly, they didn't live as long either. So this next generation is going to be living a much longer period with shall we say, relatively more uncertainty in that time that they're living, they're gonna have many different changes. We have, we have, uh, marketed a falsehood that retirement is somewhere between cruises and crutches. But in between, there's going to be so much more. There will be health events, there will be births of grandchildren. They'll be the desire and the demand to have to move. I would suggest that there will be more changes than all the previous life stages before challenge will be is that you may not be physically, emotionally, or maybe even cognitively uh is capable to, shall we say, be able to manage and pivot in those moments. So part of being prepared for retirement is having lots of plan B's and plan C's, which will also include having conversations with your partner, your spouse, your family, so they have a general idea of what, what is it that you would like or be on the, shall we say on standby for when you want to make the moves that you need to do. Yeah, you and I have talked a lot in the past about livable communities, about the age-friendly, uh, sort of, uh, uh, notion of having the eight domains all in place, whether it's housing or economic security or uh or uh community etc. Tell us, should people think about moving to communities that are quote unquote livable versus not so livable? Absolutely they they shouldn't, you know, the, the home is very important, but like the real estate mantra it says, it's about location, location, livable communities basically is not just is it have transportation alternatives, access to health care, cultural amenities, and the like, is it a place that will support you as you age? And there are tools out there. Yes, there's the designations of livable communities, but AARP also has a great website where you can punch in a zip code and it will give you scores out of fronts as to how livable or how age friendly a community might be. At the end of the day, it's up to you if you uh and your partner or if you're living solo to weigh which of those variables you think are the most important and how you'll be able to manage for transportation, housing, access to work. Frankly, don't ever forget the F word, access to fund matters. And access to a Dairy Queen with soft serve perhaps as well, huh? Got it. All right, Joe, uh, we've run out of time. We can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us. It's greatly appreciated. We'll have you back on a future episode for sure. Great. Thanks so much, Bob. Great being here. So that wraps up this episode of Decoding Retirement. We hope we provided you with some actionable advice to plan for or live better in don't forget, if you've got questions about retirement, you can email me at yfpodcast@yahoo and we'll do our best to answer your question in a future episode. And lastly, remember you can listen to Decoding Retirement on all your favorite podcast platforms. This content was not intended to be financial advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional financial services. 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Is salmon sperm the secret to amazing skin? We asked derms about the buzzy beauty trend
Salmon sperm skin care quick picks Serum: Rejuran Advanced Anti-Aging Retinol + c-PDRN Serum Under-eye patches: Abib PDRN Retinal Eye Patch Moisturizer: Gangnam Glow Rejunol Mucin PDRN Facial Cream Sheet mask: Medicube Salmon PDRN Pink Collagen Jelly Gel Mask Neck cream: Valmont V-Lift Neck Cream If salmon sperm skin care is a phrase you've heard before, it was likely within the context of the anti-aging facials celebrities can't seem to get enough of right now. With claims of instantly glowing and youthful skin, it's no wonder the K-beauty ingredient has become a beauty trend in and of itself, spreading beyond in-office treatments into face moisturizers, serums, face masks and beyond. So, what exactly is salmon sperm doing in our skin care, and what are the benefits of this seemingly off-putting ingredient? I consulted four experts, including three dermatologists and a licensed esthetician, to answer the questions on all of our minds as well as share some of their top product recommendations you can try out for yourself. First popularized in South Korea, salmon sperm skin care refers to skin care products that include salmon-derived polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), or purified DNA fragments. 'PDRNs are polynucleotides that are derived from salmon sperm,' Dr. Michelle Henry, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan, said. 'The products themselves don't contain salmon sperm; they contain fragments that are derived from salmon sperm.' Salmon PDRN has become increasingly popular, particularly in South Korea and parts of Europe, for a couple reasons. 'The DNA extracted is surprisingly rich in protein and nucleic acid,' Dr. Ellen Marmur, board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare, said. 'These ingredients hold rejuvenating qualities that are perfect for an anti-aging effect.' According to Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at the Shafer Clinic, this extracted DNA also closely resembles human DNA, making it effective and well tolerated in skin care products. Benefits include the stimulation of skin regeneration, hydration and collagen production. In-office salmon sperm treatments, such as the buzzy and provocative 'salmon sperm facial,' have a star-studded clientele, with high-profile fans that include Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Aniston. 'Treatments often combine microneedling or lasers with PDRN to drive the ingredient deeper, leading to firmer, healthier, more luminous skin,' Engelman said. The best part is that incorporating salmon PDRN products into your at-home routine won't have to feel like you're ingesting it on an episode of 'Fear Factor' since they can be used topically too. These products, which include everything from sheet masks to serums, combine PDRN with other popular skin care ingredients to target a range of skin concerns from home and without the high price tag associated with in-office treatments. 'Salmon PDRN is used for its ability to stimulate collagen production, accelerate the healing of open skin, deeply hydrate and reduce inflammation,' Engelman said. 'It helps repair the skin barrier, improve elasticity and can even soften fine lines and texture over time.' According to Olga Skydan, a licensed aesthetician with a medical degree in dermatology in Ukraine and medical expert board member at Luvly, many dermatologists use it in an injectable form for post-acne scarring or dull skin, and even after lasering for its anti-inflammatory effect, Henry added. Topical products with salmon PDRN aim to mimic these effects and benefits over time, and they're particularly useful for people who are dealing with sun damage, early signs of aging or compromised skin barriers, Skydan said. 'Because it's highly biocompatible, it integrates well into our skin's natural repair processes, making it a powerful tool for overall rejuvenation,' Engelman said. Rejuran Advanced Anti-Aging Retinol + c-PDRN Serum The most well-known brand when it comes to PDRN products, Rejuran's anti-aging serum is a favorite amongst our experts. 'I'm particularly impressed by this product, which combines salmon DNA with stabilized vitamin C and retinol to target fine lines, texture and pigmentation,' Engelman said. Both she and Marmur recommend it for those in search of a comprehensive anti-aging approach. Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Exosome Shot For those just dipping their toes into the world of PDRN skin care, both Henry and Marmur recommend this under-$25 spicule serum that enhances your skin care's absorption. It's available in two different parts per million (PPM) formulas of varying concentrations, both of which target a range of skin care concerns, from boosting elasticity to smoothing textured or rough skin to boosting hydration, Henry said. If you have sensitive skin, be sure to start with the gentler option. VT Cosmetics PDRN 100 Essence 'You can get PDRN from salmon, but there are other plant-based sources being studied like rose or ginkgo,' Henry said. This lightweight yet nourishing essence boasts PDRN derived from ginseng, which the brand claims to be more stable and have a lower molecular weight than its animal-derived counterpart. The vegan PDRN alternative also includes a nourishing ceramide complex and soothing panthenol. Genabelle PDRN Vita Toning Ampoule Skydan describes this ampoule — a term generally used to describe highly concentrated and targeted liquid skin care products — as a solid introduction to PDRN skin care. 'It blends salmon DNA with niacinamide and vitamins to brighten, hydrate and improve texture,' she said, adding that it's a great option 'for people dealing with dull or uneven skin and want that 'glass skin' finish without irritating ingredients.' She recommends applying two to three drops of the product after cleansing but before your moisturizer, both in the morning and at night. Abib PDRN Retinal Eye Patch Beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw recently added these anti-aging under-eye patches into her routine. They're saturated in a vegan PDRN serum that's derived from cica, ginkgo and bamboo, and the formula also contains caffeine, niacinamide and retinal to help reduce puffiness and fine lines. Gangnam Glow Rejunol Mucin PDRN Facial Cream Salmon PDRN and snail mucin, two K-beauty staples, meet in this face moisturizer. While PDRN is commonly touted for its anti-aging benefits, it's also an effective way to keep your skin hydrated, according to Marmur. 'The DNA strands have a rich network of hydrogen bonds capable of carrying water,' she said, providing deep hydration to your skin for that plump and healthy look. A nourishing cream, such as this option, is also an easy way to maximize your overnight skin care routine. Derma Factory PDRN 4% Ampoule 'This is one of the strongest over-the-counter PDRN products on the market, with a 4% concentration,' Skydan said. 'It's best for people dealing with compromised skin barriers, post-acne inflammation or irritation after treatments like microneedling.' She recommends applying it at night on clean skin and following it up with a gentle moisturizer. 'If your skin is sensitive, start with twice a week and then build up,' she said, adding that it's best to keep it in a cool, dark place to preserve the formula's stability. Centellian 24 360° Shot PDRN Active Serum Shaw also likes this PDRN serum that leaves her skin plump and hydrated. It contains collagen, ginseng root, turmeric and niacinamide to fortify the skin. She likes to use her Medicube Mini Booster Pro to smooth the gel formula over her skin and ensure maximum absorption. Innisfree Retinol Green Tea PDRN Firming and Smoothing Serum Looking for a vegan product? According to Marmur, vegan alternatives to salmon PDRN are worth exploring for their similarly excellent results. One example is this green tea-derived PDRN, which is extracted from patented lactic acid bacteria from green tea. The cruelty-free formulation also includes retinol to help firm skin and smooth the appearance of fine lines. Medicube Salmon PDRN Pink Collagen Jelly Gel Mask Engelman recommends this jelly-textured face mask, which is designed to be left on the skin for about three to four hours. Once your skin has completely absorbed the mask, you'll notice it will transform from opaque to transparent. 'It contains salmon PDRN, hydrolyzed collagen, peptides and niacinamides to hydrate, brighten and plump the skin,' she said. Valmont V-Lift Neck Cream If you're looking for an anti-aging product to target both your neck and face, Marmur recommends this luxury cream from Valmont, a brand that incorporates highly polymerized salmon roe DNA into its V-Lift collection. 'I like this specifically because it's made for your neck, which tends to age faster than the skin on our faces,' she said. 'It absorbs easily and gives quick results.' Genabelle PDRN 3% Hyper Boost Ampoule Ideal for those looking to restore a dewy and resilient complexion, Engelman recommends this 'beautifully formulated intensive treatment that leverages high-concentration PDRN' for improving skin elasticity and hydration. 'It works best incorporated into an evening regimen,' she said, advising clients with sensitive skin to introduce it into their routine gradually to minimize irritation. The following FAQs have been answered by dermatologists Dr. Dendy Engelman, Dr. Michelle Henry, Dr. Ellen Marmur and Olga Skydan. Is salmon sperm good for skin? Is salmon sperm good for skin? 'Salmon sperm supports tissue repair, boosts elasticity and helps calm redness,' Engelman said. 'Many patients notice smoother, stronger, more resilient skin after consistent use.' Skydan calls it a game changer. 'It's gentle, doesn't over-exfoliate or sensitize the skin and suits a range of skin types,' she said. 'But it works best as part of a consistent routine rather than a miracle one-off.' Like most skin care products, consistency is key. Skydan said to think of adding PDRN into your skin care routine as a long-term investment in your skin's recovery and strength as opposed to a quick or instant fix. Salmon PDRN's benefits are said to extend beyond the aesthetic. Marmur notes it has potential to aid in wound healing and overall anti-inflammatory effects, though more research and larger-scale studies are needed. 'There is anecdotal evidence that is very promising,' she said, sharing that she uses salmon PDRN topically on many of her patients after in-office procedures, and they do see good results. 'However, we can't compare these results to what our colleagues are seeing in Europe or Asia, where PDRN is approved for injection and is very popular,' she said. 'In the US, we're still waiting for the pool of data to grow so we can fully understand its full potential and its long-term safety profile.' Are salmon sperm facials FDA approved? Are salmon sperm facials FDA approved? 'No, salmon sperm facials — specifically the injectable forms using PDRN — are not FDA approved in the US at this time,' Engelman said. 'While topical creams or serums with salmon DNA are permitted under cosmetic guidelines, injectable versions still lack formal FDA clearance,' she said. In short, 'anyone considering these treatments should proceed cautiously and always seek trusted, well-trained providers using products that comply with US regulations,' Engelman said. What are the side effects of a salmon sperm facial? What are the side effects of a salmon sperm facial? 'Potential side effects of a salmon sperm (PDRN) facial include temporary redness, swelling, bruising or mild irritation, especially if paired with microneedling or injections,' Engelman said. 'Some people may also notice slight peeling or increased sensitivity as the skin renews.' If you're opting for a topical salmon sperm facial, 'side effects are rare but could include irritation if the formula includes other active ingredients or if your skin is sensitive,' Skydan said. For those allergic to fish, our experts generally advise against salmon-derived PDRN products or facials. 'Because PDRN is derived from salmon, there's a theoretical risk of a reaction if you have a fish allergy,' Engelman said. 'While the DNA is highly purified, we still advise caution. Anyone with a known fish allergy should generally avoid these treatments or discuss them thoroughly with their dermatologist first to minimize any risk.' For this article, we consulted the following skin experts to gain their professional insights. Dr. Dendy Engelman, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York Dr. Michelle Henry, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan Dr. Ellen Marmur, board-certified dermatologist and founder of MMSkincare Olga Skydan, licensed aesthetician with a medical degree in dermatology in Ukraine and medical expert board member at Luvly CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, contributing writer Noelle Ike spoke to dermatologists about salmon PDRN, or 'salmon sperm' skin care, and its benefits.
