Rejuran S for Acne Scars: A Guide to Polynucleotides, Collagen Repair and Skin Remodelling

Acne scars are often spoken about as though they are simply marks left behind after a breakout.

True acne scarring is more complicated than that.

When inflammation damages the deeper structure of the skin, collagen can be lost or remodelled unevenly. The surface may then heal lower than the surrounding tissue, leaving the depressions we recognise as rolling, boxcar or ice-pick scars. Research into atrophic acne scarring shows that both collagen and elastic fibres can be disrupted during the inflammatory process and incompletely restored afterwards. PubMed

This is why treating acne scars is fundamentally different from treating active acne.

The aim is no longer simply to reduce oil, congestion or inflammation. We are trying to improve tissue that has already healed imperfectly.

That is where polynucleotides have become particularly interesting.

And within the Rejuran family, Rejuran S has been developed specifically for depressed and sunken scars, including acne scarring. Its scar-focused, more viscous formulation makes it the most relevant Rejuran option when the problem is not simply poor skin quality, but a localised structural defect within the dermis. Rejuran

For clients visiting NovaLx Aesthetics in Brierley Hill from Dudley, Stourbridge, Hagley, Birmingham and across the West Midlands, I think this distinction is important.

Rejuran S should not be understood as another generic “skin booster”.

It is better understood as a targeted regenerative treatment for selected acne scars.

What actually happens when acne leaves a scar?

Not every mark left after acne is a scar.

A red mark may be post-inflammatory erythema.

A brown or grey mark may be post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Neither necessarily represents permanent structural damage.

A true atrophic acne scar occurs when the healing process leaves insufficient tissue beneath the original lesion. The surface of the skin then sits lower than the surrounding area.

This is why atrophic scars can catch the light so dramatically.

The problem is not just colour.

It is architecture.

Broadly, atrophic acne scars fall into three familiar patterns:

Rolling scars tend to have broader, softer depressions and may be tethered beneath the skin.

Boxcar scars have more defined edges and can vary considerably in depth.

Ice-pick scars are narrow but extend more deeply into the skin.

These differences matter because one treatment should not automatically be expected to correct all three.

That principle becomes especially important when discussing polynucleotides.

What are polynucleotides?

Polynucleotides are purified DNA fragments used in regenerative and aesthetic medicine with the aim of supporting tissue repair and skin quality.

Rather than behaving like a traditional dermal filler whose primary purpose is to replace volume, polynucleotides are used for their interaction with the skin's regenerative environment.

Research into highly purified polynucleotides has explored their effects on:

• fibroblast activity;

• extracellular matrix quality;

• collagen remodelling;

• hydration;

• tissue repair;

• inflammatory regulation.

  
  

A small prospective randomised placebo-controlled study involving women with moderate-to-severe atrophic acne scars found significant improvement in the polynucleotide group at one and three months, while the placebo group did not show the same improvement. The study was small, with only 20 participants, so it is encouraging evidence rather than definitive proof. PubMed

More recent real-world research has also reported improvement in atrophic acne-scar severity following a polynucleotide-based treatment programme, although not every participant improved and the authors continue to call for broader evidence. PubMed Central (PMC)

That nuance matters.

Polynucleotides are promising.

They are not magic.

So what makes Rejuran S different for acne scar treatment?

The Rejuran range contains different formulations intended for different treatment objectives.

Rejuran S is the scar-focused formulation.

Product information specifically describes it as intended for depressed or sunken scars and acne scarring, and UK pharmacy listings describe it as a higher-viscosity PN formulation intended for focal scar treatment and collagen remodelling. Rejuran

That difference in formulation matters.

When treating general skin quality, we may want a product to distribute through a broader area of the dermis.

When treating a depressed acne scar, the treatment is much more localised.

We are dealing with a specific area where the dermal structure has been damaged.

This is why, within the Rejuran range, Rejuran S makes more sense for acne scarring than using a general skin-quality formulation simply because both contain polynucleotides.

The treatment and the problem should match.

How may Rejuran S help an acne scar?

I think it is useful to separate two possible effects.

1. Supporting the scarred tissue itself

Polynucleotides are used with the intention of creating a more favourable environment for tissue repair and remodelling.

In scarred skin, that may mean encouraging better-quality extracellular matrix and collagen organisation over time.

The aim is gradual improvement in:

• texture;

• tissue quality;

• the transition between scarred and surrounding skin;

• the visible depth of selected depressions.

  
  

A 2024 case series looking specifically at Rejuran in different types of scars reported improvements in scar texture and visibility, including with Rejuran S in a post-traumatic facial scar. However, this was a case series rather than a large controlled trial, and several patients received combination treatments. PubMed

That means we should interpret it as supportive evidence, not proof that every scar will respond in the same way.

2. Supporting healing after acne scar treatment with Rejuran S

This may ultimately prove to be one of the more interesting roles for polynucleotides.

Acne-scar treatments such as fractional laser, microneedling, RF microneedling and subcision deliberately create controlled injury or tissue disruption in order to provoke remodelling.

Polynucleotides approach the problem from the repair side.

A 2026 randomised comparative trial of fractional CO₂ for atrophic acne scars found better outcomes when the laser was combined with polynucleotide and exosome-mimetic treatment than with CO₂ alone, including greater improvement in scar scores and lower rates of prolonged erythema and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Because more than one adjunctive product was used, we cannot attribute the entire effect to polynucleotides alone, but the findings strengthen the regenerative-treatment argument. PubMed

That is a more sophisticated way to think about Rejuran S.

Not necessarily as a replacement for every established scar treatment, but as a treatment that may improve the biological environment in which scar remodelling takes place.

Which acne scars may benefit most from Rejuran S?

This is where we need to resist the temptation to call every depressed mark an ideal Rejuran scar.

Rolling scars

Rolling scars are often broad and shallow, with a wave-like depression.

Where the scar is relatively superficial and the tissue itself needs regenerative support, Rejuran S may be particularly relevant.

However, some rolling scars are tethered to deeper tissue.

If the tether itself is what is pulling the scar down, simply injecting a regenerative product may not release it.

In those situations, subcision may need to form part of the treatment plan.

Boxcar scars

Shallow and moderate boxcar scars may also be reasonable targets for a regenerative approach because there is a defined depression and local loss of tissue support.

Deeper boxcar scars are more difficult.

They may require resurfacing or another structural intervention in addition to polynucleotides.

Ice-pick scars

Deep ice-pick scars are a different problem.

Their narrow opening can extend substantially into the dermis.

A regenerative injectable alone is unlikely to be the most efficient way of correcting that architecture.

Treatments such as TCA CROSS or selected surgical techniques may be more appropriate, with regenerative therapy potentially playing a supporting role afterwards.

This is why I would not say:

“Rejuran S is the best treatment for every acne scar.”

That would not be credible.

I would say:

Rejuran S is one of the most targeted polynucleotide options for depressed acne scarring, but scar type still determines whether it should be used alone, in combination or not at all.

Rejuran S versus a normal skin booster

This is an important distinction.

A conventional skin booster is usually chosen primarily for hydration, glow and general skin quality.

That may make the skin look healthier, but acne scars are a structural problem.

Rejuran S is different because it is specifically positioned for focal scar treatment rather than general facial hydration.

Within the Rejuran family, this is the reason I would favour Rejuran S for acne scarring rather than choosing a general Rejuran formulation simply because it contains the same broad family of regenerative ingredients.

The product needs to match the indication.

Rejuran S versus RF microneedling or CO₂ laser

This should not really be framed as a competition.

They work differently.

RF microneedling creates controlled mechanical and thermal injury within the dermis to stimulate remodelling.

Fractional CO₂ laser creates microscopic columns of ablative injury, producing both resurfacing and deeper collagen remodelling.

Rejuran S does not produce that same type of controlled injury.

Its role is regenerative.

That makes the treatment logic quite different:

Main problem	Treatment direction that may be considered
Shallow depressed scar with poor tissue quality	Rejuran S may be considered
Rolling scar with tethering	Subcision may be necessary, with Rejuran S as regenerative support
Wider textural scarring	RF microneedling may form part of the plan
More established resurfacing need	Fractional CO₂ may be considered
Deep ice-pick scars	TCA CROSS or other focal techniques may be more appropriate
Mixed acne-scar pattern	Combination treatment is often more logical than one universal procedure

This is why scar treatment becomes much more effective when we stop asking which treatment is “best” and start identifying the job each treatment needs to perform.

Why combination acne-scar treatment often makes sense

Most people do not have only one scar type.

A cheek may contain rolling scars, shallow boxcars, deeper boxcars and occasional ice-pick scars simultaneously.

Trying to treat all of those with one device, one injectable or one peel is rarely the most intelligent approach.

Instead, treatment can be mapped.

A tethered scar may need releasing.

A deep narrow scar may need a focal chemical technique.

A wider textural problem may need resurfacing or RF microneedling.

And selected depressed scars may benefit from Rejuran S to support tissue repair and collagen remodelling.

This is not about piling treatments together.

Every treatment should have a specific reason for being there.

Can polynucleotides actually heal scars?

The word healing needs some care.

An established scar is already healed tissue.

What we are trying to do is influence how that tissue subsequently remodels.

Research supports a potential role for polynucleotides in scar management, but the evidence is still developing.

A 2026 survey of Korean dermatologists found polynucleotides were widely being used for post-acne marks and atrophic acne scars. However, that study described clinician practice patterns rather than proving treatment efficacy. PubMed Central (PMC)

There are also emerging reports of Rejuran being used in traumatic, surgical and wound-related scars. PubMed

Taken together, the evidence suggests genuine regenerative potential.

But I would still prefer the phrase:

supporting scar repair and remodelling

rather than:

healing scars completely.

That is a more accurate promise.

Who may be a good candidate for Rejuran S?

Rejuran S may be worth discussing if you have established atrophic acne scars after the active acne has been brought under reasonable control.

It may particularly appeal to clients who want:

• targeted treatment of depressed scars;

• gradual rather than artificial-looking improvement;

• collagen and tissue-quality support;

• a regenerative injectable rather than conventional volumising filler;

• an option that can sit within a broader scar programme.

  
  

The scar itself still needs examining.

Depth, shape, tethering, skin type, pigmentation history and previous treatments all influence whether Rejuran S makes sense.

When might Rejuran S not be enough?

This section is essential because a scar-focused treatment can still have limits.

Rejuran S may not be sufficient on its own where there is:

• deep ice-pick scarring;

• heavily tethered rolling scars;

• very deep boxcar scars;

• extensive severe textural change;

• active inflammatory acne that is still creating new scars;

• hypertrophic or keloid scarring requiring a different approach.

  
  

A current UK clinical guide on Rejuran similarly cautions that deep or tethered scars may require structural treatments rather than relying on polynucleotides alone. Injectables Booking

The purpose of assessment is therefore not to decide where to inject Rejuran S.

It is to decide which scars Rejuran S can realistically help.

What should you expect from treatment?

Rejuran S is injected directly into or around selected scarred areas rather than being treated as a general facial moisturising injectable.

Temporary effects can include:

• small injection-site bumps;

• redness;

• swelling;

• tenderness;

• bruising.

  
  

These generally settle, but recovery varies.

Because Rejuran products are derived from salmon DNA, relevant allergies and medical history should be discussed before treatment. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, active infection, medication and previous injectable reactions also need to be considered.

This is a medical injectable treatment, not simply an advanced facial.

How quickly do acne scars improve?

Regenerative scar treatment is gradual.

There may be an early visible change simply because material has been placed beneath a depressed area.

That should not be confused with the longer-term biological result.

The more interesting process is what happens afterwards as tissue remodels.

In the small randomised trial of purified polynucleotides for atrophic acne scars, significant improvement was seen at one and three months. PubMed

That fits the wider principle we use throughout regenerative aesthetics:

collagen improvement should be judged in months, not days.

A scar that has existed for several years should not be expected to disappear after one injection.

How many Rejuran S treatments are needed?

There is no sensible universal number.

The plan depends on:

• scar number;

• scar depth;

• scar type;

• whether scars are tethered;

• whether another treatment is being combined;

• skin response;

• the degree of improvement being sought.

  
  

Published Rejuran case reports and broader PN studies have used treatment series rather than relying on a single session, but protocols vary considerably. PubMed

I would therefore avoid selling a fixed package before properly assessing the scars.

The skin should determine the treatment plan.

Not the package.

Why Rejuran S at NovaLx Aesthetics?

NovaLx Aesthetics is based in Brierley Hill, with clients visiting us from Dudley, Stourbridge, Hagley, Birmingham and across the West Midlands.

Our interest in Rejuran S is part of a broader move towards regenerative acne-scar treatment.

We already approach scarring through collagen induction and resurfacing where appropriate.

Rejuran S adds something different.

It allows us to think not only about creating controlled remodelling through treatments such as microneedling, RF microneedling or resurfacing, but also about supporting the quality of tissue that is being asked to repair.

That does not mean every acne scar should be injected.

It means Rejuran S gives us another tool where the indication makes sense.

And within the Rejuran range, its scar-specific formulation makes it the option I would choose when the treatment objective is depressed acne scarring rather than general skin hydration or glow. Church Pharmacy

The goal is not to promise scar-free skin.

It is to make each treatment decision more precise.

Final thoughts

Acne scars are not simply marks.

They are areas where inflammation and healing have changed the structure of the skin.

That is why good scar treatment needs to look beyond the surface.

Some scars need releasing.

Some need resurfacing.

Some need controlled collagen induction.

And some may benefit from a regenerative treatment that supports the tissue itself.

That is where Rejuran S becomes particularly interesting.

It is not simply another polynucleotide treatment being repurposed for acne scars. It is the Rejuran formulation specifically intended for depressed and sunken scar tissue. Rejuran

But the strongest reason to use it is not the product name.

It is when its mechanism matches the scar.

Identify the scar. Understand the structure. Choose the treatment that has the right job. Then give the skin time to remodel.

That is a much more credible way to approach acne scarring than promising that one procedure can erase it.

FAQs

Is Rejuran S good for acne scars?

Rejuran S has been developed specifically for depressed and sunken scars, including acne scarring. Polynucleotide research also supports a potential role in improving atrophic acne scars and tissue quality. However, results depend heavily on scar type and depth. It is best thought of as a targeted regenerative treatment rather than a universal scar remover. Rejuran

Which acne scars respond best to Rejuran S?

Selected atrophic scars are the most logical target. Shallow rolling and boxcar scars may be appropriate, while deep ice-pick scars or strongly tethered rolling scars often require another structural treatment such as TCA CROSS or subcision. A face frequently contains several scar types, so treatment should be mapped scar by scar rather than applying one protocol everywhere.

What is the difference between Rejuran S and normal Rejuran?

Both belong to the Rejuran polynucleotide family, but Rejuran S is formulated specifically for focal scar treatment and has a more viscous consistency. Standard Rejuran treatments are more commonly associated with broader skin-quality and rejuvenation goals. For depressed acne scars, Rejuran S is therefore the more targeted option within the Rejuran range. Church Pharmacy

Can Rejuran S remove acne scars completely?

No treatment should promise complete removal of acne scars. Rejuran S may soften the appearance of selected depressed scars and support tissue remodelling, but deeper or tethered scars may need additional techniques. The aim is realistic improvement in depth, texture and skin quality rather than making every scar disappear.

Is Rejuran S better than RF microneedling for acne scars?

They perform different jobs. RF microneedling creates controlled mechanical and thermal stimulation to provoke dermal remodelling. Rejuran S is an injectable polynucleotide treatment used to support regenerative repair within scarred tissue. Depending on the scar pattern, one may be sufficient or the two may sit within a staged treatment plan. Neither is universally superior.

Can Rejuran S be combined with laser treatment?

Potentially, yes. Emerging research suggests that polynucleotides may have value alongside resurfacing treatments. A 2026 randomised study found better acne-scar outcomes when fractional CO₂ was combined with a polynucleotide-containing regenerative protocol than with CO₂ alone, although the adjunct also contained exosome-mimetic vesicles, so the benefit cannot be attributed solely to PN. PubMed

How long does Rejuran S take to work on acne scars?

Improvement is gradual. An early change may occur because the scarred area has been injected, but collagen and tissue remodelling take longer. Clinical research into polynucleotides for atrophic acne scarring has shown improvement over one to three months, with continuing assessment needed over time. PubMed

Can Rejuran S treat acne scars on darker skin tones?

Polynucleotides do not rely on targeting pigment in the way some laser technologies do, which can make them an interesting option when pigmentation risk is part of the treatment decision. However, injections can still cause inflammation, bruising or post-inflammatory colour change, and darker skin is not automatically risk-free. Scar type, pigmentation history and treatment technique still need assessing individually.

Should active acne be treated before Rejuran S?

Usually, yes. If significant inflammatory acne is still creating new lesions and new scars, controlling the active disease is the priority. Scar treatment becomes more logical once acne is reasonably stable. Otherwise, existing scars may be improving while new scars continue to form.