True beauty and confidence goes beyond physical appearance. It’s about nurturing you as a whole, moving your body to be strong, eating food that nourishes you, clearing the mind so you can be creative, and maintaining a lifestyle that lets you be your best.
Dr Aishwarya Vasudevan
About Dr Mélanin
Our Story
Established by Dr Aishwarya Vasudevan, a dedicated aesthetic doctor and a person of colour herself, Dr Mélanin is built on a deep personal connection to the cause. Through her work as an aesthetic doctor, Dr Vasudevan witnessed the challenges faced by countless patients with pigmented skin tones: inadequate care, avoidable complications, minimal research and limited options.
Determined to bridge this gap, Dr Mélanin was created: a reputable, doctor-led and research-based aesthetic clinic dedicated to providing safe and effective treatments tailored to melanin rich skin. We envision Dr Mélanin to be a brand that is committed to driving research and innovation in skin of colour, allowing us to continuously improve our treatments and provide even better care for our diverse community.
Dr Aishwarya Vasudevan BMBS PGDip
As a skilled medical and aesthetic doctor with a special interest in skin of colour, Dr Vasudevan also practices in the NHS as a GP Specialty Trainee with a particular interest in dermatology and minor surgery. A proud member of the Skin of Colour Training Society, Dr Vasudevan engages with research and innovation in the skin of colour space. She currently holds a Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Injectables and Cosmetic Dermatology from Harley Academy and has also undergone additional skin of colour training with the Black Skin Directory.
Dr Vasudevan has received mentoring from Dr Bhavjit Kaur, one of the UK’s leading aesthetic specialists in skin of colour. To further expand her knowledge, she has completed further training and mentorship with dermatologists in India and regularly attends international skin of colour conferences.
Having worked in multiple aesthetic clinics across London and Greater London and recognising the need to improved care for skin of colour, Dr Vasudevan developed her experience treating a wide range of skin of colour clients. She has led impactful projects in acute medicine and medical education within the NHS, demonstrating her leadership, innovation, and dedication to excellence. Her research has been published in leading medical journals, including work on wellness and strength training, a personal passion she pursues in her spare time.
Born in India, and raised in the UK, Dr Vasudevan speaks four languages fluently, allowing her to connect meaningfully with diverse patient communities. With her unique blend of cultural insight, advanced medical training, and evidence-based practice, she truly understands what beauty and aesthetics really means to a person of colour.
Dr Vyoma Damani MBBS DVD
Consultant Dermatologist, Clinical Advisor at Dr Mélanin
Dr Vyoma Damani is a highly accomplished consultant dermatologist with over 23 years of clinical, aesthetic, and academic experience. She trained at the prestigious Grant Medical College, Mumbai, where she completed her postgraduate training in Dermatology. Her early career was marked by her consultant role at Kaya Skin Clinic, India’s leading chain of aesthetic and dermatology clinics. Dr Damani was amongst the first dermatologists to join at its inception in 2002 and played a pivotal role in the success of Kaya.
Over several years, she also built her own successful cosmetic dermatology practice in Mumbai, offering treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, microneedling, mesotherapy, laser hair reduction, photorejuvenation, electrosurgery and injectables for skin of colour, including celebrity clients.
Dr Damani currently practices as a consultant dermatologist in Essex, where she manages a wide spectrum of skin, hair and nail conditions in both adults and children and performs dermatological surgery. She has taken on multiple leadership roles in dermatology, particularly in skin cancer care, streamlining multidisciplinary team meetings and leading improvements in referral pathways including teledermatology services. Dr Damani has over 20 years of teaching experience, training and assessing dermatology registrars, specialty doctors, foundation year doctors, medical students, nursing staff and nursing students, mentoring the next generation of dermatologists through her role of Educational Lead and Programme Director for Dermatology. As well as an examiner and lecturer at Anglia Ruskin School of Medicine, her passion for education extends to her role of Appraiser for her Trust.
Dr Damani has presented at national and international conferences, contributed case reports and posters to dermatology forums, and participated in clinical research. Of note is her experience with the use of long pulsed Nd:YAG laser technology for hair reduction in patients with darker skin types. She continues to participate in regional and national dermatology education events to keep her knowledge and skills updated, to ensure excellence in patient care.
Dr Damani is a member of the British Association of Dermatologists, the Royal College of Physicians (UK), British Medical Association and the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists. Beyond her professional achievements, Dr Damani has a keen interest in Indian classical music, the culinary arts, travel and photography. With her unique blend of international dermatology and aesthetic expertise, vast experience in treating skin of colour clients, along with her drive to educate and improve clinical standards and service, she brings invaluable insight to patient care and clinical advancement at Dr Mélanin, mirroring the vision that drives us.
Romalaa Gunasekara
As our exceptional and talented Business Associate, Romalaa’s dedication, leadership and versatility shine through every role she takes on. Originally from Sri Lanka and fluent in Sinhala, she blends a global and rich cultural perspective with excellent communication skills. Her growing professional portfolio includes leadership in coordinating team initiatives, managing bugets and financial reporting for community organisations, and delivering hands-on support in youth development programs.
Inspired by her own journey overing skin and acne challenges as well as her struggle to find the right guidance, Romalaa was drawn to our growing team, determined to help others feel confident in their own skin. Outside of work, Romalaa is a keen dancer and dedicates her spare time to volunteering at a special needs school which reflects her compassion, creativity and commitment to making a positive impact. Romalaa brings immense value to everything we do and truly embodies our mission and vision.
Our Vision
At Dr Mélanin, we aim to redefine aesthetic medicine with expert, evidence based care tailored to skin of colour throughout the UK, increasing access to high quality specialist treatments. Beyond clinical excellence, we are dedicated to pioneeding research, innovation, and industry standards to improve outcomes for diverse skintones.
As we grow, we also embrace our social responsibility, striving to support those with significant cosmetic concerns who lack financial access to treatment, making a meaning difference in their lives.
Our Values
At Dr Mélanin, we are committed to providing exceptional, unbiased care, building trust through transparency and a client-centred approach. Integrity and safety guide every decision, ensuring we recommend treatments only when we believe they will make a meaningful difference. As we grow, we strive to contribute to research and innovation in skin of colour, advancing knowledge in the field. Education is at the heart of our mission, we empower both our clients and our team through a culture of curiosity, continuous learning, and problem solving, driving ongoing improvement of our services and aesthetic care.
