Professional & Powerful Women - Dr Bhavna Singh

As the recipient of a string of awards celebrating extraordinary women in their respective fields, including the International Panache Woman of Wonder Award, the Top 75 Dynamic Wonder Women of SA award in 2023, and the Panache Woman of Wonder Global Icon Award in 2025, Dr Bhavna Singh is a force to be reckoned with in the field of specialised dermatology.

She has her Master of Medicine in Dermatology and has published her research on Atopic Eczema. She is a Fellow of the College of Dermatologists and a member of the Dermatology Society of South Africa and the South African Society for Dermatologic Surgery. 

In 2021, she founded Beyond Skin and now heads EmporiDerm, a medical and aesthetic practice in Umhlanga. With more than 13 years’ experience in dermatology, she treats adult and paediatric conditions including eczema, acne, psoriasis, hair loss, pigmentation and skin cancers, while also performing minor surgical and aesthetic procedures.

Bhavna says one of the profession’s biggest challenges is social media misinformation, with platforms such as TikTok and Instagram heavily saturated with unverified, sometimes dangerous, trends that complicate clinical care. This then also creates unrealistic patient expectations. Her business philosophy centres on patient education, ethical practice and evidence-based care. “The patient comes first,” she says, adding there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. “The focus remains on individualised, holistic care,” she says. Her advice is to prioritise what matters to you, let go of societal pressures and self-doubt, and focus your energy on what can be changed. She also stresses the importance of health, relationships and consistency, saying: “Excellent customer service is the most cost-effective way to generate repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals.”

Bhavna loves everything KwaZulu-Natal has to offer. She describes Durban as a spectacular melting pot of rich culture, golden beaches and year-round sunshine, with a vibrant blend of Zulu, Indian and colonial heritage. 

“As someone with a very low tolerance for cold weather, I love that Durban is always warmer than the rest of the country with more predictable weather patterns.” She also loves that one can go a few kilometres inland and drive through the scenic Midlands or even further into the province to see several game reserves. “We can even experience snow on the Drakensberg Mountains on an odd occasion!” she exclaims.

Website: www.beyondskin.co.za