Dr S'lindile Ndwalane

“A woman’s strength is not measured by how much she carries, but by the courage with which she continues to become.”

Today, we celebrate South African women; the women who nurture, lead, build, teach, heal and create.

May we continue to make space for women to be cared for as deeply as they care for others.
Happy Women’s Day🇿🇦🌸

We spend a lot of time caring for our hair, but how often do we check in on the skin underneath it?

A healthy scalp is usually:

1. Comfortable
It shouldn’t be persistently itchy, painful, burning or tender.

2. Calm
Frequent redness, inflammation, excessive flaking or recurring bumps may signal an underlying scalp condition.

3. Supporting healthy hair growth
Unusual shedding, thinning or patchy hair loss deserves attention rather than being dismissed as “normal.”

Your scalp is skin too; and it deserves care.

If you’re noticing persistent scalp changes or hair loss, speak to a dermatologist rather than relying on DIY treatments or guessing at the cause.

📍 Stonehill Medical Centre, Edenvale
📞 011 452 5331 | 081 476 8703
✉️ [email protected]

Patients come in with mercury-damaged skin. Steroid-induced acne. Permanent scarring from unregulated products bought without a single medical consultation. And the heartbreaking thing? They were just trying to feel confident in their skin.

The industry that sold them these products is still running. Still marketing. Still profiting.

Your skin colour is not a medical problem. And you deserve better than this.

Visit your nearest dermatologist for support and treatment.
📧 [email protected]
☎️ 011 452 5331
📍Stonehill Crossing Medical Centre

There is no such thing as a ‘base tan’ that protects you. A tan is your skin’s distress signal. It means DNA damage has already occurred.

Wear your sunscreen SPF 50. Every. Single. Day.

Not just when you’re going to the beach. Not just in summer. Not just if you’re fair-skinned. Every day, in every season, for every skin tone.

UV damage is cumulative - it builds silently over years and decades. By the time the visible signs appear, the cellular damage is long done.

Dark spots are one of the most common concerns I see; and one of the most frequently mistreated.

Because not all pigmentation is the same. PIH, melasma, and sun damage each require a different approach. Using the wrong products won’t just fail — it can make things worse.

This is exactly why a proper diagnosis matters before any treatment begins.

Which type are you dealing with? Drop it in the comments - I’d love to help point you in the right direction. 💬

July is UV Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to understand what UV radiation actually is—and why daily sun protection matters.

☀️ UVA ("A" for Ageing)
Penetrates deep into the skin, contributing to premature ageing, pigmentation, and increasing the risk of skin cancer. UVA is present all year round and can pass through clouds and glass.
☀️ UVB ("B" for Burning)
Affects the outer layers of the skin and is the primary cause of sunburn. It also plays a major role in DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer.
☀️ UVC
The most harmful form of UV radiation, but fortunately it is absorbed by the Earth's ozone layer and does not normally reach us.

Whether your skin is fair or richly pigmented, protecting it from UV exposure is an important part of maintaining healthy skin. Sunscreen, protective clothing, seeking shade, and avoiding prolonged sun exposure during peak UV hours all make a difference.

Your skin protects you every day; return the favour.

📍 Stonehill Medical Centre, Edenvale
📞 011 452 5331 | 081 476 8703
✉️ [email protected]

I have been showing up here long enough to know one thing:
The questions you are afraid to ask in the consulting room are the ones that matter most.

About that patch that keeps coming back. About the hair loss you have been hiding under a wig or a hat. About the nail change you keep meaning to get checked. About the thing your mother told you that doesn't feel quite right.

This month I talked about skin, hair, nails, vitiligo, teenage acne, traction alopecia, and what your skin can tell your doctor about your blood. And I want to know:

What did we miss? What do you still need answered?

Leave your question below. It might become next month's content; and it might be exactly what someone else needed to ask too.

Remember to reach out to your nearest dermatologist for all of your dermatological concerns;

📍 Stonehill Medical Centre, Edenvale
📞 011 452 5331 | 081 476 8703
✉️ [email protected]

Today is World Vitiligo Day. Let's have the real conversation.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition. It causes the immune system to attack melanin-producing cells. It is not contagious. It is not a punishment. And it is treatable.

The stigma around vitiligo in African communities is a public health issue. Today, I am using my platform to say clearly: people living with vitiligo deserve dignity, accurate information, and access to care.

Repost this. Someone in your community needs to see it today.

Fatherhood is often measured in moments that don't make headlines👱‍♂️

- The early mornings.
- The lifts to school and sport.
- The words of encouragement.
- The sacrifices made without recognition.
- The steady presence that makes a child feel safe.

Today, we celebrate fathers and father figures who lead with strength, gentleness, and integrity. Thank you for the lessons you teach, the values you instil, and the love you give so generously. May you know that your presence matters more than you realise, and that the lives you are shaping today will carry your influence for generations to come.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads who continue to show up with love🤎

I treat acne every day. I also have a sporty ten-year-old right on the edge of all of this.
Active kids are at higher risk than most parents realise, and the window to get ahead of it is narrow.

This one is for the parent who wants to handle it well. Remember to always visit your nearest dermatologist.