Acorn Secretome Therapy
Acorn Secretome Therapy in Chevy Chase, MD
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Medically reviewed by Tina B. West, MD, board-certified dermatologist · Updated November 9, 2026.
Regenerative skin care, chosen by a dermatologist with a clinical research background.
Acorn Secretome therapy is a personalized regenerative treatment made from your own preserved hair follicle-derived cells. It supports skin quality, recovery after laser and microneedling, and early hair thinning. At The West Institute, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tina West offers Acorn as part of her minimally invasive, maintenance-first approach. It works with your body’s own repair signals; it doesn’t add volume or change your features.
Patients come from Washington, DC, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac and Northern Virginia.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Source | Your own preserved hair follicle-derived cells |
| Collection | Quick hair follicle sample; no surgery, liposuction or bone marrow harvest |
| How it’s used | Applied during microneedling, RF microneedling, laser resurfacing or scalp treatment |
| Downtime | Comes from the paired procedure, not the secretome |
| Results | Skin: within weeks, building over time. Hair: gradual, over months |
| Cost | Quoted at your consultation (collection, banking and treatment) |
Why Dr. West for Acorn
- Research-trained. A clinical research fellowship and work on FDA clinical trials shape how she evaluates new regenerative treatments.
- Used where it adds value. She pairs Acorn with her resurfacing and microneedling treatments to support recovery and skin quality.
- Your cells, your plan. Acorn is personalized from your own follicle-derived cells and fits Dr. West’s maintenance-first approach.
What Is Acorn Secretome Therapy?
It uses the signaling molecules your own cells produce to create a customized serum. That serum is applied during select in-office procedures to support repair, improve skin quality and help skin and scalp look healthier over time. It is not a live stem cell injection: the serum contains the signals your cells make, not the cells themselves.
How Does Acorn Work?
A small sample of hair follicles is sent to Acorn’s lab, where viable cells are processed and preserved. From them, Acorn creates your personalized secretome serum. Dr. West applies it right after a procedure that opens temporary microchannels — such as microneedling, RF microneedling or laser resurfacing — when the skin is most receptive.
What Is a Secretome?
A secretome is the full set of signaling molecules cells release: growth factors, peptides, cytokines, proteins, extracellular vesicles and exosomes. These signals guide repair, calm inflammation and support collagen, hydration and barrier function. Exosomes are one part of that system; a secretome is the whole of it.
Who Is a Candidate?
Patients bothered by fine lines, dull or uneven skin, crepey texture, mild laxity, sun damage, rough skin or enlarged-looking pores, slow healing after resurfacing, or early hair thinning. Acorn doesn’t replace neuromodulators, fillers, lasers, skin tightening or medical hair-loss treatment when those are needed; it adds to them. Patients with certain medical conditions, active skin infections or scalp conditions may need a different approach.
What Happens During Treatment?
- Consultation with Dr. West or a trained member of her team to confirm Acorn fits your plan.
- A quick, non-surgical hair follicle collection, sent to Acorn’s lab.
- Once your serum is ready, it’s applied during your planned microneedling, RF microneedling, laser or scalp treatment.
How Is Acorn Different from PRP or Exosomes?
| Item | PRP | Exosome products | Acorn Secretome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Your blood | Typically donor or lab-derived | Your own follicle-derived cells |
| What it contains | Platelet growth factors | Extracellular vesicles | Growth factors, peptides, cytokines, proteins, vesicles and exosomes |
| Variability | Depends on age, health, platelet quality and preparation | Depends on the product | Personalized to your cells |
Which is best depends on your goal; Dr. West helps choose. See also Hair Restoration.
When Will I See Results, and Is There Downtime?
Some patients notice calmer, brighter, more hydrated skin within the first few weeks, especially after microneedling or laser; texture, tone and elasticity keep improving. Hair results take months. Any redness, warmth, swelling, dryness or flaking comes from the paired procedure, and many patients add Acorn specifically to support healing.
Board-Certified in Dermatology and Internal Medicine · Founder, The West Institute ·
- 30+ years in cosmetic dermatology; in private practice since 1996
- Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology and American Board of Internal Medicine
- Chief Resident in Dermatology, The Washington Hospital Center, 1994–1996; clinical research fellowship in dermatology
- Published in Dermatologic Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, JAAD and Annals of Plastic Surgery; contributing editor, Dermatologic Surgery, 1996–2005
- Faculty, Current Concepts in Cutaneous Laser Surgery, Harvard Medical School, and the ASLMS Advanced Laser Skin Resurfacing Course
- Consultant and injectables trainer for Allergan and Galderma; original phase III FDA trials for Botox Cosmetic
- Fellow, AAD, ASDS and ASLMS · Washingtonian TopDoc · Patient’s Choice Award (multiple)
Meet Your Physician: Tina B. West, MD
