Dr. Michelle Rodrigues

Dr. Michelle Rodrigues Dermatologist in Melbourne providing innovative, comprehensive and personalised care for adults and children.

Areas of expertise include pigment disorders, skin of colour, photoaging and aesthetic treatments in doverse skin types. Dr. Rodrigues is the director of Chroma Dermatology, Pigment and Skin of Colour Centre (Wheelers Hill, Doncaster). She also holds consultant dermatology the Royal Children's Hospitals and is a co-founder of Australia's first multi-disciplinary vitiligo clinic. Her areas of expertise include pigment conditions, skin conditions in skin of colour and laser surgery. She is also an interest in hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and acne scarring. Dr. Rodrigues brings her passion and knowledge gained in world renowned pigment and skin of colour centres around the world to the suburbs of Melbourne. For more information visit
www.drmichellerodrigues.com
www.chromaderm.com.au

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08/09/2026

If you are on (Oratane, Acutane) for this reel is for you.

These will help you minimize side effects whilst on treatment

03/09/2026

🥹 Sorry, not sorry.

🔥Repetitive heat is the enemy.

🙉Listen up if you have or are worried about

01/09/2026

Your phone is not giving you melasma. 📱

There’s an important distinction that often gets lost when we talk about “blue light”.

☀️ Visible light from the SUN matters.
It can induce pigmentation, particularly in more deeply pigmented skin, and can contribute to conditions such as melasma.

📱 Blue light from your phone, laptop or TV is different.

The intensity of exposure from our everyday electronic devices is dramatically lower.

Research involving Professor Thierry Passeron specifically investigated blue light emitted by electronic devices in people with melasma — and found that it did not worsen melasma.

A subsequent systematic review also found that the available evidence did not identify blue light from electronic devices as a hazard for skin pigmentation or melasma exacerbation.

So when we’re talking about protecting pigmentation from visible light, our attention should be on sunlight — not screen time.

This is also why you need to be careful when skincare marketing uses genuine science about visible light and then extrapolates it to the light coming from your phone.

They are not equivalent exposures.

Send this to someone who still thinks their phone is causing their pigmentation — and save it for the next time you see a “blue-light skincare” claim.

Follow for evidence-based information on pigmentation, skin of colour and what the science actually says.



Reference
Duteil L, Queille-Roussel C, Lacour JP, Montaudié H, Passeron T. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020.
Christensen T et al. Systematic review of cutaneous effects of blue light from electronic devices.

25/08/2026

Clean.” “Natural.” “Dermatologist approved.” Expensive.

None of these, on their own, tell you whether a moisturiser is actually right for your skin.

What matters? The formulation—and what your skin needs.

🧱 Ceramides → support the skin barrier
💧 Humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid → attract and retain water
🛡️ Occlusives like petrolatum and mineral oil → reduce water loss and help seal in moisture
✨ Keratolytic ingredients like urea and lactic acid → can help soften rough, thickened or scaly skin

And remember: more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean more effective. Some excellent moisturisers are affordable and available at local pharmacies !

The best moisturiser is the one with the right formulation for your skin and your skin concerns.

Lotions are best for hair bearing and oily skin
Creams are great for dry skin
Ointments are perfect for very dry or cracked skin

Save this before for your next moisturizer shop
and share it with to help your besties spend their money on something more than marketing

SkincareTips

20/08/2026

Ear piercing feels like such a small decision. But if your child is prone to keloid scarring, that tiny piercing can sometimes leave a scar far bigger than the piercing itself.

And this matters particularly for families with darker skin, because keloids are more common in skin of colour.

Before piercing your child’s ears, think about:

✨ HISTORY — Does your child or close family have a history of keloids or thick, raised scars?

✨ LOCATION — For a first piercing, the soft earlobe is preferable to cartilage.

✨ METHOD — Choose an experienced professional using sterile, single-use equipment and a technique designed to minimise unnecessary tissue trauma.

✨ METAL — High-quality implant-grade titanium is a good starter option, particularly when nickel sensitivity is a concern.

✨ MONITOR — Don’t ignore a scar that starts becoming raised, firm, itchy or progressively larger. Early assessment matters.

And what about age?

There isn’t a magic age that guarantees a child won’t develop a keloid. I prefer waiting until a child is old enough to understand what’s happening, cooperate with the piercing and avoid constantly touching or playing with it while it heals.

The most important message: if your child has previously developed a keloid — or there is a strong family tendency — get medical advice before an elective piercing.

Ear piercing is common. Keloids are not inevitable. But knowing your child’s risk before the needle touches the skin is much easier than treating a keloid afterwards.

🔖 SAVE this for the day your child asks to have their ears pierced.

📤 And SEND it to another parent with a child who’s starting to ask for earrings — especially a family with darker skin. This is one of those things worth knowing before, not after.

19/08/2026

For people living with conditions such as eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and chronic dry skin, good barrier care can be an important part of an overall treatment plan.

My winter barrier basics:

🛁 Keep showers short and lukewarm—not long and hot
🫧 Choose a gentle, soap-free cleanser
🧴 Moisturise consistently
💧 Lotions can suit mild dryness and hair-bearing areas
🤍 Creams provide more moisturisation for everyday dry skin
🛡️ Ointments are more occlusive and can be useful for very dry, cracked areas
💊 And importantly: treat the underlying inflammatory skin condition appropriately

There is no single “best” moisturiser for everyone.

The right formulation depends on your skin condition, how dry your skin is, where you’re applying it—and, importantly, what you’ll actually use consistently.

SAVE this as your winter skin-barrier checklist.

And SHARE it with the person who keeps telling you that everything they put on their skin seems to sting.

Every yes costs us something.Over the last 5 or so years, I’ve said no to some incredible opportunities — because I’m cl...
14/08/2026

Every yes costs us something.

Over the last 5 or so years, I’ve said no to some incredible opportunities — because I’m clearer than ever about what matters most.

My faith. My family. My values. 🤍

Sometimes saying no is how we protect our most important yes.

Share this with someone who needs the reminder.

☀️ 💪

12/08/2026

Your skin keeps a diary — but you still get to write the next chapter. ☀️📖

Our skin carries a biological record of years of environmental exposure.

UV radiation is cumulative and is a major driver of photoageing. Visible light can also contribute to pigmentation — particularly in darker skin phototypes and people prone to melasma and hyperpigmentation.

And one of the biggest misconceptions?

☁️ Cold or cloudy doesn’t mean your skin isn’t being exposed.

UVA can pe*****te cloud cover and contributes to photoageing, while visible light exposure continues throughout the day.

So what can you do now?

→ Protect the barrier: gentle cleanser + regular moisturiser
→ Protect from UV: broad-spectrum SPF 50+
→ Pigmentation-prone? Consider a tinted sunscreen that provides meaningful visible-light protection
→ Add antioxidant support: topical antioxidants can complement photoprotection; selected oral photoprotective antioxidants may also have a role

None of this means you need to feel guilty about the years when you didn’t know better.

Because perhaps the most important message in skin longevity is this:

You can’t rewrite the earlier chapters.
But you can change the trajectory of the story.

It is never too late to start protecting your skin.

SAVE this for your future skin — and SHARE it with someone who thinks the damage has already been done.

Follow for evidence-based dermatology, pigmentation and skin longevity.

10/08/2026

🚨 Big news for the vitiligo community.

Positive Phase 3 trial results have just been announced for oral ritlecitinib, bringing another potential treatment one step closer to approval for non-segmental vitiligo.

While these results are encouraging, they’re also a reminder that vitiligo treatment is becoming increasingly personalised. The right treatment depends on factors such as disease activity, how extensive the vitiligo is, and individual patient goals.

As a dermatologist specialising in pigmentary disorders and vitiligo, I’ll continue breaking down the latest research into practical, evidence-based information.

💬 What questions do you have about the future of vitiligo treatment?

📌 Save this post to stay updated, and follow for trusted, evidence-based skin science.

05/08/2026

Exosome injections are everywhere. But here’s a question worth asking…

Can you identify an exosome product on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) that is approved for intradermal or subcutaneous injection for cosmetic skin rejuvenation or hair loss?

As of 31 July 2026, I have been unable to identify one.

That doesn’t automatically mean every exosome treatment being performed is unlawful, and it doesn’t mean exosomes have no future in dermatology.

But it does highlight an important distinction:

A treatment being offered in a clinic is not the same as a product being approved for injection for that indication.

This conversation has become even more relevant after recent regulatory action overseas, with Saudi Arabia taking enforcement action over injectable exosome promotion and Qatar restricting injectable exosome therapies.

If you’re considering an exosome treatment, ask your practitioner:

✔️ What is the exact product?
✔️ Does it have an ARTG entry?
✔️ Is injection an approved route of administration?

Patients deserve transparency, evidence and informed consent—not assumptions.

👇 I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have you been offered exosome injections?

Save this post so you know which questions to ask before treatment, and share it with someone considering exosome therapy.

Address

G2, 6 Nexus Court
Wheelers Hill, VIC
3170

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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