Real‐World Use of Polynucleotide Injections in Scar Prevention and Management: A Nationwide Survey of Korean Society for Anti‐Aging Dermatology ( KAAD ) Dermatologists

BACKGROUND: Scarring is a common dermatologic concern with both aesthetic and functional implications. Polynucleotide (PN)-based injectables have emerged as medical devices in dermatologic practice; however, real-world evidence on their use in scar management remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To describe current clinical practices, application patterns, and perceived roles of PN injections in scar prevention and management among dermatologists belonging to the Korean Society for Anti-Aging Dermatology (KAAD). METHODS: A nationwide, cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted among KAAD dermatologists. The questionnaire assessed PN use by scar type and etiology, injection techniques, combination strategies, and barriers to adoption. Data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Among 501 respondents, 73.0% reported using PN for scar management. PN was most commonly used for scar prevention (81.4%) and atrophic scars (74.9%), with limited use in hypertrophic scars (10.1%). Intradermal injection over three sessions was the most common approach. PN was frequently incorporated into multimodal protocols, including botulinum toxin, fillers, corticosteroids, bleomycin, and energy-based devices. Reported benefits included improved tissue response, enhanced skin texture, and accelerated wound recovery. Key barriers to PN adoption were product cost (66.7%), limited awareness of its role in scar management (52.6%), and injection discomfort (25.2%). CONCLUSION: PN injections are commonly incorporated into scar prevention and management among KAAD dermatologists participating in this survey, particularly for acne-related, surgical, and traumatic scars. These findings provide real-world insight into current practice patterns and are hypothesis-generating. Prospective studies are needed to define optimal treatment protocols, including dosing, treatment intervals, and combination strategies.