How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.
Rupi Kaur
Where every journey begins
A consultation at Dr Mélanin is far more than a brief conversation before treatment. It is a thorough, considered process designed to truly understand your skin, your history, and your goals, before any recommendation is ever made. Every client’s skin tells a different story, shaped by genetics, heritage, lifestyle and environment, and our role is to listen carefully, examine thoroughly, and translate what we find into a plan that is genuinely right for you.
Consultations at a Glance
Medical & Aesthetic History
We begin by exploring your concerns in detail, alongside a full review of your medical and aesthetic history to ensure we make the right diagnosis and that there are no contraindications to treatment.
Skincare Routine & Lifestyle
We assess your current skincare routine and its suitability for your skin and future treatments, suggest helpful lifestyle adjustments, and provide tailored skincare recommendations to support your concerns.
In-Depth Skin Examination
A comprehensive skin examination follows, including assessment under UV light, allowing us to identify your true skin type and any underlying pigmentary concerns that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Skin Anatomy & Physiology
We take the time to educate our clients on the structure and behaviour of their skin, with particular attention to heritage, natural adaptations, and how environmental factors shape the way skin of colour functions.
Options & Recommendations
We talk you through our findings in detail and we recommend the treatments and changes best suited to your skin concerns, alongside our professional opinion and any alternative options worth considering.
Yours to Keep
You receive a detailed consultation summary, relevant leaflets, tailored skincare recommendations, and product samples to trial at home, so that every step of your journey is considered and entirely your own.
Frequently Asked Questions
We begin by discussing your concerns in detail, followed by a full review of your medical and aesthetic history to check for any contraindications. We then assess your current skincare and examine your skin thoroughly, including under UV light, to understand your true skin type and any underlying pigmentary concerns. We talk you through our findings, recommend a tailored plan, and provide a written summary, leaflets, skincare advice and samples to take home.
UV examination allows us to see beneath the surface of the skin, revealing pigmentary changes, oil and hydration patterns, and other concerns that aren’t always visible in normal light. This is particularly valuable in skin of colour, where pigmentation can sit at different depths and may not be obvious on visual examination alone. It helps us understand the true nature of your concerns and build a more accurate, effective treatment plan.
Skin of colour is not one single category. Heritage can influence skin structure, oil production, healing response and how skin ages, scars or pigments. Understanding your individual background allows us to apply a more nuanced, medically accurate approach, rather than a generic one, ensuring the advice and treatments we recommend are genuinely suited to your skin.
Yes, an initial consultation is required before starting any treatment with us, as it allows us to properly assess your skin and build a safe, bespoke plan. Ongoing reviews may also be recommended throughout your treatment journey, to monitor progress and adjust your plan as your skin responds.
Yes. You’ll leave with a detailed written summary of everything discussed, including our clinical findings and agreed next steps, along with relevant leaflets, tailored skincare recommendations, and product samples to trial at home.
Yes. Many skin concerns are influenced by everyday habits, from hydration and skincare routines to hair removal methods and diet. Where relevant, we’ll discuss simple, practical adjustments that can meaningfully support your results alongside any treatments we recommend.
Cosmetic consultations require a £50 deposit, fully redeemable against any non-prescription skin treatment (excluding skin reviews and products). Medical consultations are £100, which includes this £50 deposit.
Not at all. Some clients begin treatment shortly after their consultation, while others, particularly those with sensitive or reactive skin, may need a period of skincare preparation first to settle the skin barrier before any treatment begins. We’ll always recommend what’s genuinely right for your skin, even if that means waiting.