Exosome Therapy
Exosomes are usually applied right after microneedling or laser. They can also be injected into the area.
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Exosome vs Rejuran
Rejuran is the more established of the two. It is injected into the skin as a course of three visits and is aimed at texture, fine lines and shallow scarring. Exosome treatments are usually not injected at all. The liquid is applied to the skin straight after microneedling or a laser, so a lot of what you are paying for is the microneedling or the laser. The evidence behind exosomes is early and the products vary a great deal between clinics.
At a glance
| The difference | Exosome Therapy | Rejuran |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Tiny packets of cell signals | Polynucleotides from salmon DNA |
| What it is used for | Calming and glow, often after a procedure | Texture and repair |
| Downtime | One to two days of pink skin | One to two days of small bumps |
| Cost | Priced as an add-on, and it is not small | Priced per session, and you need three |
| Most of the exosome result is the treatment underneath | Studies that split the face do suggest the exosome side does better. | Rejuran is measured on its own. |
Rejuran
Rejuran is injected in small amounts across the area. It is usually done as a series of visits.
Side by side
The differences that matter
What it is
Exosome Therapy
Tiny packets of cell signals
Exosomes are microscopic bubbles released by cells that carry proteins and other signalling material. Most products are grown from stem cells or from plants.
Rejuran
Polynucleotides from salmon DNA
Purified DNA fragments injected into the skin to support repair.
How it gets into your skin
Exosome Therapy
Through channels made by something else
The skin is microneedled or lasered first, then the liquid goes on top and soaks in. Some clinics inject it, but that is less common.
Rejuran
Injected directly
Many small injections spread across the treatment area, a few millimetres deep.
What it is used for
Exosome Therapy
Calming and glow, often after a procedure
Redness, irritated skin, post-laser recovery, and general brightness. Also sold for hair thinning.
Rejuran
Texture and repair
Fine lines, rough texture, shallow acne scars, dullness, and thin or easily irritated skin.
How soon you see something
Exosome Therapy
Within a week
The early glow mostly reflects the microneedling or laser it came with, and settling of redness.
Rejuran
Two to four weeks, building for three months
Nothing changes on the day. It is a slow, steady improvement.
How many sessions
Exosome Therapy
Usually three, four to six weeks apart
Tied to the schedule of the treatment it is paired with.
Rejuran
Three, three to four weeks apart
Then one session every six to twelve months.
Downtime
Exosome Therapy
One to two days of pink skin
The recovery you have is the recovery from the microneedling or laser, not from the exosomes.
Rejuran
One to two days of small bumps
Raised spots at each injection point, plus possible bruising.
How good is the evidence
Exosome Therapy
Early
The published work is small, short and often run by makers. It suggests exosomes added to microneedling help, but the size of that help is not settled.
Rejuran
Better, but still limited
More studies, more years of use, and a clearer picture of what it does. Still mostly small studies.
What it will not do
Exosome Therapy
It will not lift or fill
Exosomes do not add volume and will not tighten loose skin.
Rejuran
It will not lift or fill either
Rejuran changes skin quality only. A hollow cheek stays hollow.
Cost
Exosome Therapy
Priced as an add-on, and it is not small
It is charged on top of the microneedling or laser. Ask for the price with and without it.
Rejuran
Priced per session, and you need three
Ask for the cost of the whole course.
The at-home or drugstore version
Exosome Therapy
Serums labelled exosome are common
They sit on unbroken skin. Whether a particle that size crosses an intact barrier is not established, so treat these as ordinary serums.
Rejuran
Salmon DNA serums are a different thing
PDRN creams exist and feel nice. Injected polynucleotides are placed inside the skin, which a cream cannot do.
Who each suits
Exosome Therapy
- Best for — Someone already booking microneedling or a laser who wants faster settling.
- The mindset — You accept you are paying for something still being worked out.
Rejuran
- Best for — Texture, fine lines and shallow scarring, over a course.
- The mindset — You want the option with more of a track record.
Most of the exosome result is the treatment underneath
Exosome Therapy
Studies that split the face do suggest the exosome side does better. Those studies are small, run for six months or less, and often involve the company that makes the product. That is a reason to be interested, not a reason to be confident.
Rejuran
Rejuran is measured on its own. It is injected without a resurfacing treatment attached, so what you see is what the product did.
The products are not standard
Exosome Therapy
"Exosomes" is a category, not a product. One clinic's exosome serum is not the same as the next clinic's. The source differs. The strength differs. So do the storage and handling. Two exosome facials in the same city can contain very different things.
Rejuran
Rejuran is a single branded product with a fixed formula. You know what you are getting from one clinic to the next.
Before you book
Exosome Therapy
- Ask what the exosome product is and who makes it. A clinic that cannot answer is a reason to pause.
- Ask the price of the microneedling or laser without the exosome add-on, so you can see what the add-on costs.
- Ask what the plan is if you see nothing after the full course.
- If your main problem is looseness or lost volume, neither of these is the treatment for it.
- Bring a photo of yourself from a few years ago rather than a photo of someone else.
Common questions
Questions Patients Ask
Are exosomes injected or put on top of the skin?
Usually on top. The skin is microneedled or lasered first to make tiny channels, then the liquid is applied. Some clinics do inject them, but that is less common and less standard.
Which one works better?
Nobody knows, because no reliable trial has compared them. Rejuran has more studies and more years of use behind it. Exosome results are hard to separate from the microneedling or laser they come with.
Can I have both?
Yes, and clinics often pair them. There is no evidence yet that the pair beats either one alone, so it is worth asking what the combination adds to the price.
Do exosome serums work at home?
An intact skin barrier is a serious obstacle for a particle that size, and this has not been settled. Judge an exosome serum the way you would judge any other serum, not as a home version of the clinic treatment.
Is Rejuran painful?
It stings. Numbing cream is standard. It feels like many small pinpricks, and small raised bumps sit at each point for a day or two afterwards.
Can I get these in the United States?
Neither is approved in the US for these uses, though some clinics offer them. Most of the published experience and the before-and-after photos you find online come from Korea.