DM DERMATOLOGY
Exosome
ABOUT EXOSOME
Exosomes: tiny sacs
released by cells
Exosomes are very small sacs that cells release. This page describes a skin booster treatment in which an ampoule containing exosome ingredients is applied to the skin.
Cells are known to exchange signals with neighboring cells through these sacs. Exosome ampoules used in dermatology contain a raw material made by collecting these sacs from the culture medium in which cells were grown. Ampoules may also contain supporting ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamins.
Exosome ampoules are often used together with fractional laser or microneedling, applied to the skin after the procedure.
Before deciding on exosome treatment, DM Dermatology in Apgujeong looks at the condition of your skin barrier and any recent treatments. We also decide at this point whether to combine it with laser or microneedling. Recovery and results vary from person to person.
- Extracellular vesicles
- About 30–150nm in diameter
- Topical ampoule
- 5cc
5cc
Exosome dose at DM Dermatology
150nm or less
Diameter of an exosome (about 30–150nm; 1nm = one millionth of a mm)
3–4wk
Typical treatment interval
3sessions
Typical number of sessions in a first plan
Skin Care
gentle care
CHECK
If you have these concerns,
start with a consultation
If even one applies, we look at your skin condition and the product information together at your visit.
- Care after laser or microneedlingYou have fractional laser or microneedling coming up and are also looking into an ampoule to apply to the skin afterward.
- Unfamiliar termsYou want to know first what terms like extracellular vesicle and culture medium mean.
- Injecting vs. applyingMethods seem to differ from clinic to clinic, and you want to know how these products are regulated in Korea.
- Comparing skin boostersYou want to know how the ingredients and methods differ from Rejuran and Aqua Glow Injection before you choose.
- Sensitive skinYou want to check first what ingredients the ampoule contains and whether it could cause an allergy.
Whether the treatment is right for you is decided after we check your skin condition and medical history at your visit.
HOW IT WORKS
Extracellular vesicles:
signal sacs sent by cells
In scientific terms, an exosome is one type of extracellular vesicle. Its diameter is about 30–150nm, too small to see with an ordinary microscope.
The outside of the sac is a thin membrane made of lipids. Proteins, lipids, and RNA are carried in the membrane and inside it. When another cell takes up the sac, its cargo is described as passing to that cell as a signal.
Published human studies applied exosomes right after fractional laser or microneedling.
- Lipid membrane
The thin membrane that forms the outside of the sac. It is made of the same lipids as cell membranes.
- Membrane proteins
Proteins embedded in the membrane. They are used as markers to identify exosomes.
- Cargo
RNA and proteins carried inside the sac.
- 1
Epidermis The outermost layer of the skin. Its top layer, the stratum corneum, acts as a barrier against outside substances.
- 2
Dermis The layer beneath the epidermis that gives the skin its elasticity and thickness.
- 3
Fibroblasts Cells in the dermis that make collagen and elastin.
- 4
Collagen fibers Protein fibers that support the dermis.
- 5
Subcutaneous fat The fat layer beneath the dermis that wraps the body.
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE
Exosome products:
what to know first
Before deciding on treatment, look at how the product is regulated.
In Korea, they are usually cosmetics
Exosome ampoules used in dermatology are usually distributed as cosmetics in Korea. In October 2022, during the National Assembly's annual audit, the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) answered that exosomes were being sold as cosmetics. Human cell culture media can be used as a cosmetic ingredient only when they meet the MFDS cosmetics safety standards.
No product is approved for injection
In Korea, no exosome product is approved as an injectable drug or medical device. In December 2022, the Ministry of Health and Welfare asked the medical community not to inject products registered as topical cosmetics. This is why this page describes applying it to the skin.
No product is approved in the US either
In a public safety notification on December 6, 2019, the US FDA stated that there are no approved exosome products. The same notification reported serious adverse events in patients in Nebraska who had received unapproved exosome products.
Ingredients and amounts differ by product
Which cells the culture medium came from, how it was filtered, and how many exosomes it contains differ from product to product. Before treatment, ask for the product name and ingredients, and avoid products of unknown origin.
SKIN BOOSTER
Differences between skin boosters
by ingredient and method
| Exosome ampoule | PN · PDRN (e.g., Rejuran) | Hyaluronic acid (Aqua Glow Injection) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main ingredient | Extracellular vesicles collected from cell culture media (source cells differ by product) | DNA fragments from salmon and other sources (PN: long chains; PDRN: short chains) | Hyaluronic acid |
| Regulatory category in Korea | Usually cosmetics | PN injection (Rejuran): medical device; PDRN injection: drug | Medical device |
| How it is used | Applied to the skin (often used after laser or microneedling) | Injected into the dermis | Injected into the dermis |
| DM Dermatology menu | Exosome | Rejuran | Aqua Glow Injection |
This table summarizes ingredients and regulatory categories. It does not mean one is better than another. Which treatment suits you is decided after we look at your skin at your visit.
PROCESS
The exosome treatment process
Below is the general flow. We explain the actual method and order after your examination.
step 01
Examination and skin check
We look at your skin barrier, redness, and acne inflammation. We ask about medications (especially the acne medicine isotretinoin), allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding, cold sores (herpes) on the lips, and recent treatments.
step 02
Cleansing and combined treatments
We remove your makeup and sunscreen and disinfect your face. If laser or microneedling is planned as well, numbing cream is applied and that treatment is done first.
step 03
Applying the exosome ampoule
Powder-type products are dissolved in their dedicated solution just before treatment. The prepared ampoule is spread evenly over the face.
step 04
Soothing and going home
If needed, a soothing mask or cool pads cool the skin. You go home after hearing when to wash your face and how to protect your skin from UV.
INFORMATION
Exosome treatment info
- Procedure time
- Ampoule only: 20–30 min
With laser or microneedling, about 1 hour including numbing - Numbing
- Not used for the ampoule alone
With laser or microneedling, numbing cream is applied for about 30 min - Recovery
- Redness · burning 1–3 days
With laser, redness and flaking last 4–5 days - Daily life
- Light makeup from the next day
Skip saunas, alcohol, and intense exercise for 2–3 days - Interval · Sessions
- 3 sessions, 3–4 weeks apart
Later sessions are planned based on your skin - Volume
- 5cc
The area it is applied to is decided at your visit
These are general guidelines and vary from person to person. DM Dermatology sets your treatment schedule after an examination.
Caution
Aftercare and
what you should know
Keep irritation to the skin low until redness settles.
- 01Gentle cleansing on the day
Wash gently with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser. Pat dry with a towel instead of rubbing.
- 02Makeup from the next day
Light makeup is usually fine from the next day. If you also had laser, wait until scabs and flaking clear.
- 03Pause irritating ingredients for a while
Skip retinoids, exfoliating ingredients such as AHA and BHA, and scrubs for 3–5 days. Also hold off on trying any new skincare product during this time.
- 04Avoid heat and sweat
Skip saunas, jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouses), alcohol, and exercise that makes you sweat a lot for 2–3 days.
- 05Sun protection
During the day, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and wear a wide-brimmed hat. This helps reduce lingering pigmentation.
- 06Contact us right away about warning signs
If redness and pain get worse every day, pus or blisters appear, or a firm lump comes up weeks later, contact the clinic right away.
- After the ampoule is applied, redness, a burning feeling, stinging, or tightness may occur. These usually settle within 1–3 days. If you also had laser or microneedling, redness, swelling, and flaking may last about 5 days.
- An allergy or contact dermatitis may develop to the exosomes or to any supporting ingredient in the ampoule. Tell us if itching, a bumpy rash, or swelling appears.
- After laser or microneedling, the skin barrier is temporarily weaker. Rarely, a bacterial infection may develop during this time. If you have had herpes blisters (cold sores) on your lips, they may come back after laser treatment.
- After redness or inflammation settles, the area sometimes stays brown. This is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and it is more common in darker skin tones.
- Rarely, cases have been reported in which a product applied during microneedling stayed in the skin and caused red, firm lumps (granulomas) weeks to months later. If a new lump appears even weeks after treatment, please let the clinic know.
- Cases of granulomas, skin necrosis, and lasting scars after exosome products were injected into the skin have been reported in Korean and international journals. Avoid treatments outside medical institutions.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, treatments combined with microneedling or laser are avoided. If you are taking the acne medicine isotretinoin, microneedling is not done. Tell us if you have a wound, infection, or inflammation in the treatment area, tend to form keloids or hypertrophic scars, have a bleeding disorder, or take blood-thinning medicine. Please also tell us about autoimmune diseases, metal or anesthetic allergies, and any retinoid ointments or creams you have used recently.
How results appear and how long recovery takes vary from person to person with skin condition, combined treatments, and lifestyle.
DM DOCTOR
A board-certified dermatologist as medical director
Personal diagnosis · Accountable care
Thorough care from a board-certified dermatologist with over 20 years of treating skin
At DM Dermatology, our medical director, a board-certified dermatologist, examines your skin in person and plans treatment around your concerns and daily life.
Dr. Shin Young-ik Medical Director · Board-Certified Dermatologist
- M.S., Hanyang University College of Medicine
- Adjunct Professor, Hanyang University
- Full Member, Korean Dermatological Association
- Clinical Fellowship in Dermatology, Jefferson Medical College (Thomas Jefferson University), USA
Care by a board-certified dermatologistPatients here are seen by a dermatologist certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
DM DERMATOLOGY
Related treatments
FAQ
01What are exosomes?
Exosomes are small sacs, about 30–150nm in diameter, that cells release. They carry proteins, lipids, and RNA, and cells use them to exchange signals with neighboring cells. Exosome ampoules used in dermatology contain a raw material made by collecting these sacs from cell culture media.
02Is exosome treatment an injection, or is it applied to the skin?
Exosome ampoules used at Korean dermatology clinics are usually distributed as cosmetics, and cosmetics are products applied to the skin. In December 2022, the Ministry of Health and Welfare asked the medical community not to inject products registered as topical cosmetics. This page describes applying it to the skin, and DM Dermatology explains its specific method at your visit.
03Are exosome products approved by Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety?
General cosmetics do not go through the efficacy and safety review and product approval that drugs do. Human cell culture media can be used as a cosmetic ingredient only when they meet the MFDS cosmetics safety standards. In Korea, no exosome product is approved as an injectable drug or medical device.
04Are exosome products approved in the US?
No. In a public safety notification on December 6, 2019, the US FDA stated that there are no approved exosome products, and it repeated this in a 2020 consumer alert. In 2025, the FDA also sent warning letters to companies that sold exosome products without approval.
05Are exosomes stem cells?
No. Exosomes are not cells; they are small sacs released by cells, and they cannot grow or divide on their own. The raw material is collected from the culture medium after the cells are filtered out. Which cells' culture medium is used differs by product.
06Has research confirmed the effects of exosomes?
Split-face comparison studies that applied exosomes after laser or microneedling were published in 2020 (25 people) and 2023 (28 people). Both studies gave 3 sessions, 3 weeks apart, and measured scar scores, wrinkles, elasticity, hydration, redness, recovery time, and other outcomes. Study results do not appear the same in every person; they vary with skin condition and combined treatments.
07How are exosomes different from Rejuran?
Rejuran is a product that injects DNA fragments (PN) from salmon and other sources into the dermis, and it is regulated as a medical device in Korea. An exosome ampoule contains small sacs collected from cell culture media; it is usually distributed as a cosmetic and applied to the skin. They differ in ingredients, regulatory category, and method; this does not mean one is better than the other.
08What side effects can exosomes cause?
After application, redness, a burning feeling, or stinging may occur, and these usually ease within a few days. Rarely, allergy or contact dermatitis, infection after laser or microneedling, pigmentation, or lumps that form weeks later (granulomas) may occur. Cases of skin necrosis or scarring after exosomes were injected into the skin have also been reported in journals.
09How many exosome sessions do I need, and how far apart?
Usually, 3 sessions 3–4 weeks apart are planned first. The two published studies also gave 3 sessions, 3 weeks apart. Makeup is usually fine from the next day; if you also had laser, wait a few more days until flaking clears.
10What is the 5cc exosome at DM Dermatology in Apgujeong?
5cc is the dose listed for the exosome item at DM Dermatology. The product used, any combined treatments, and the area it is applied to are decided after we look at your skin at your visit. Before treatment, please tell us about your medications, allergies, and pregnancy or breastfeeding.
CONSULTATION
Consultation comes first
Before any treatment is chosen, a board-certified dermatologist checks your skin in person.
DM Dermatology, 4F, 579-1 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
From Apgujeong Station (Line 3) Exit 5, walk straight for 50 m. 4th floor of the A Twosome Place building
- Weekdays
- am 10:00 - pm 07:00
- Saturday
- am 10:00 - pm 04:30
- Lunch break
- pm 01:00 - pm 02:00
- Sun & holidays
- By appointment only
- Subway
3Apgujeong StationExit 5
Walk straight for 50 m · 2 min on foot · 4th floor of the A Twosome Place building
- Bus
Apgujeong Station Exit 4 · Exit 32310523429
Blue bus147 · 148 · 240 · 463 · 343Green bus4211
Kwanglim Church · Hyundai High School2310323104
Blue bus143 · 240 · 345 · 472Green bus3011 · 4312 · 4318
- By car
Search in your navigation app158 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu디엠피부과의원
Use the building’s underground parking · Parking available in the building
