What is PDGF+? Recombinant PDGF-BB in skin treatments, and what the evidence shows
A growth factor grown in a lab, not drawn from your arm — applied the moment microneedling or RF has opened the skin. What the one published trial found, and what a 2026 review says about it.
Alla Yusim, RN, MSN, FNPAesthetic medicine · 7819 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11214PDGF+ is recombinant platelet-derived growth factor BB, sold for aesthetic use as Ariessence pure PDGF+ and applied to skin straight after microneedling, RF microneedling or a laser. It is a topical cosmetic, not an injection. One randomised trial has been published — 12 people, manufacturer-funded, 30 days — and a 2026 review by Mayo Clinic dermatologists calls aesthetic PDGF investigational.
What PDGF is
PDGF — platelet-derived growth factor — is the signal your body sends to a wound to start rebuilding it: it recruits the cells that lay down collagen and brings blood supply to the area. PDGF-BB, the specific form used here, has received FDA approval in four medical indications for tissue regeneration, such as wound healing. REGRANEX gel — a recombinant PDGF-BB product now owned by Lynch Regenerative Medicine — is one of them.
PDGF+ vs PRP
| PDGF+ (Ariessence) | PRP | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Recombinant — grown, not drawn | Your own blood |
| Blood draw | None | Yes |
| What's in it | One growth factor, PDGF-BB | A broad mix of platelet growth factors |
| Concentration | Standardised — the 2025 trial used 300 µg/mL | Varies with your blood that day |
| Price here | From $250, added to a treatment | $600 per session |
What the 2025 trial found — and what it didn't
One randomised trial has tested PDGF+ in aesthetics, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in 2025 (Lynch et al.). Thirteen women were enrolled and twelve completed it — eight had PDGF applied after one RF-microneedling session, four had an ointment instead — and were followed for 30 days. The PDGF group scored significantly better on a blinded global improvement scale at 30 days — at 7 days the difference was not significant — and on six of seven imaging measures. Two authors work for the manufacturer, and the study was funded by it.
Why a 2026 review calls it investigational
A 2026 review in the same journal, led by Mayo Clinic dermatologists (Aristizabal Torres, Gold & Bruce), concludes that clinical use of aesthetic PDGF may be outpacing the evidence behind it. The review points to growth-factor products being injected despite being registered only for topical use, with no dosing data behind that use; notes that a cosmetic registration is not an FDA drug approval; and raises open questions about stimulating cell activity with no way to control it once started. A separate 2026 article in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, titled "Platelet-Derived Growth Factor in Aesthetic Medicine: A Call for Caution," addresses the same evidence question.
Is PDGF+ injected?
Not here, and not according to the manufacturer. Ariessence pure PDGF+ is sold and labelled as a topical cosmetic; the manufacturer states that injectable use has not been FDA-approved. Whatever is being searched for as "PDGF-BB injectable growth factors," it is not what happens at this practice — PDGF+ is applied to skin, never injected.
How it is used at SkinScience NY
It is added on top of microneedling or RF microneedling, mixed at the chairside and laid onto the skin the moment the channels that treatment just opened are still open — never sold or performed as a standalone treatment (see /services/pdgf and /services/microneedling).
Common questions
What is PDGF+?
A brand of recombinant PDGF-BB, sold by Ariessence, applied to skin right after microneedling, RF microneedling or a peel. It is topical, not injected.
Is PDGF+ the same as PRP?
No. PRP is your own platelets, spun down from a blood draw, and its content varies with your blood that day. PDGF+ is a recombinant, standardised dose of a single growth factor, with no blood draw.
Is PDGF+ FDA-approved?
PDGF-BB has FDA approval in four medical indications, including wound-healing products such as REGRANEX gel. Ariessence pure PDGF+ itself is registered and sold as a cosmetic for topical use — that is not the same as an FDA drug approval.
How much does it cost here?
From $250, added to microneedling ($600), RF microneedling or a peel.
Can I have it on its own?
No. It works because it is applied through channels a treatment has just opened; on intact skin, it has nothing to reach.
Sources
- Lynch et al., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2025)
- Aristizabal Torres, Gold & Bruce, review (2026)
- "Platelet-Derived Growth Factor in Aesthetic Medicine: A Call for Caution," Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (2026)
- Ariessence pure PDGF+ (manufacturer)
- Lynch Regenerative Medicine — REGRANEX acquisition, BusinessWire (2025)
This guide is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an in-person assessment. Treatments described are performed by Alla Yusim, RN, MSN, FNP at Skin in Focus, LLC, 7819 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11214.
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