Beyond the Beauty Buzz: Pharmacy Meets Aesthetics

When Kim Kardashian told her mother, Kris Jenner, on The Kardashians that she had “salmon sperm injected into [her] face,” it made for an attention-grabbing skincare headline.¹ Jennifer Aniston had described trying a similar facial in a 2023 interview. Celebrity stories can spark curiosity, but they do not tell us which preparation was used or whether a product delivers meaningful benefits.

As a PharmD student interested in aesthetics, I see an opportunity to connect our training with the questions surrounding skincare products, such as polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN). The science is more nuanced than a celebrity endorsement can capture, and understanding that nuance is a useful place for pharmacists to contribute.

PDRN is a mixture of DNA fragments, commonly derived from salmon or trout, that has been investigated for tissue repair. Proposed biological pathways include adenosine A_2A receptor signaling and the reuse of nucleotides through salvage pathways. PDRN is discussed alongside other polynucleotide preparations, but terminology and molecular characteristics vary. Evidence for one preparation or route should not be assumed to apply to another.²

A systematic review published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology evaluated 9 studies that included 219 patients receiving polynucleotide treatment. Although the authors reported promising findings for wrinkles, skin texture, and elasticity, they rated the studies as low or moderate in quality. Treatment methods and outcome measures varied, and the review called for more rigorous research.³ For a conversation about a specific product, that distinction is important, because promising results are not the same as definitive evidence.

Topical evidence also deserves a formulation-specific reading. A small study published online in December 2025 evaluated a cream containing low-molecular-weight PDRN derived from Paeonia lactiflora, or peony. The clinical study enrolled 10 participants and reported improved periorbital skin elasticity after 4 weeks.⁴ That finding is worth discussing, but it does not establish that every PDRN serum or cream will produce the same result. The short follow-up and small sample also leave questions about durability and generalizability. Source, formulation, concentration, and delivery method matter when interpreting a product’s claims.^2,4

For me, the value of pharmacy training becomes clearer in questions like these. When we learn to evaluate clinical trials, we practice examining study design, sample size, funding, and whether an outcome matters to patients. When we study formulation and drug delivery, we learn to question whether evidence for an injected preparation can support a claim about a cream. And when we take therapeutics, we learn to ask not just whether something works, but how, for whom, and under what conditions.

Those habits can support conversations in skincare and aesthetics alongside the professionals already working in the field. I see an opportunity for pharmacists to collaborate with dermatologists, nurses, other health care professionals, and industry teams. A useful contribution might be identifying which claims are supported by a study, explaining its limitations, or helping translate technical information into practical education.

There are documented ways for pharmacists to contribute within aesthetics companies. Merz Aesthetics, for example, explicitly includes PharmDs among the professional backgrounds of its medical science liaisons. The company describes these professionals as supporting scientific discussions, educational sessions, and reviews of clinical data.⁵ For a student considering industry, that is a concrete example of pharmacy training being relevant beyond a traditional practice setting. The next question is what additional experience a particular role requires.

For students, I think the next step is to explore the work behind the title. What does the team do each day? How much of the role involves evidence review, education, program delivery, or relationship-building? What additional experience would a student need? An informational conversation or a well-chosen elective can help us make that connection without assuming that an interest in beauty must lead to a single career path.

Evidence evaluation, formulation knowledge, and patient counseling also offer different starting points. One student might enjoy developing scientific content, whereas another may be more interested in helping deliver educational programs or collaborating with professional-engagement teams. The goal is not to replace the skills of colleagues from other disciplines. It is to understand where our scientific foundation can complement theirs and where we still need to learn.

Whatever ingredient captures the next skincare headline, the questions should remain consistent: What was actually studied, and in whom? By which route? How reliable are the results? Where does the evidence stop? Asking those questions does not require dismissing innovation. It requires being honest about uncertainty while remaining curious about what better evidence might show.

For a pharmacist, that contribution might look like collaborating with an aesthetics team to evaluate whether a product’s claims are supported, or helping explain a new formulation to health care professionals. For me, that is the connection worth exploring between pharmacy school and the beauty industry.

That is not beyond the beauty buzz. That is where pharmacy meets it.

REFERENCES

1. McRady R. Kim Kardashian says she got salmon sperm injected into her face. Entertainment Tonight. July 11, 2024. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://www.etonline.com/kim-kardashian-says-she-got-salmon-sperm-injected-into-her-face-228942

2. Arora G. Polynucleotides and polydeoxyribonucleotides in dermatology: a narrative review. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2026;19(1):17-28. doi:10.25259/JCAS_65_2025

3. Lampridou S, Bassett S, Cavallini M, Christopoulos G. The effectiveness of polynucleotides in esthetic medicine: a systematic review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(2):e16721. doi:10.1111/jocd.16721

4. Bak SU, Jung MS, Kim DJ, Jin HU, Lee SY, An CE. Anti-aging efficacy of low-molecular-weight polydeoxyribonucleotide derived from Paeonia lactiflora. Int J Mol Sci. 2026;27(1):220. doi:10.3390/ijms27010220

5. Contact Us. Merz Aesthetics. Accessed November 5, 2026. Accessed October 14, 2026. https://merzaesthetics.com/contact/forms-hcp/expert/