How a skincare concept for surgical patients morphed into a business

When surgeon Dr Ashley Naidoo and his colleagues were looking into how to help their patients’ wounds heal better after surgery, they discovered there was a gap in the market for skincare products that holistically support the skin’s delicate microbiome.

While it may seem counterintuitive to many people that a surgeon is one of the brains behind the BiomeRenew skin care range, for Dr Naidoo, an orthopaedic surgeon, this came naturally.

“As an orthopaedic surgeon, patient care doesn’t end at suturing the wound closed after I’ve operated. For me, holistic care includes making sure the wound heals well, too – and if the patient’s natural healing systems can be supported, all the better.

“In looking into this, we found that many commercially developed skincare products don’t work in harmony with the skin’s natural defences. But this is what our patients needed to boost their skin’s ability to heal after surgery.”

Working with other medical practitioners, including dermatologists, they realised they had to come up with the solution to the problem themselves. “I’d discussed this with a few other colleagues, and we agreed skincare that supports a healthy skin microbiome is one of the fundamentals of effective post-operative care and healing. We wanted effective, safe and microbiome-friendly skincare for our patients. Conventional creams often fell short in treating scars and compromised post-surgical skin.”

The answer lay in postbiotics: a gentle, plant-based solution in the form of powerful bioactive compounds that are stable, safe and immediately usable by the skin.

More than a niche medical solution

“Our very first formulations were trialled with patients in a few specialist rooms,” explains Dr Naidoo. “The feedback was incredible: scars healed flatter, eczema calmed, acne breakouts reduced. We knew we had something bigger than a niche medical solution.

“It was not a quick journey to market by any means. BiomeRenew’s journey began with years of research into the skin microbiome, leading to products that don’t just cover symptoms but work at the root cause – the microbiome itself.

“Put simply, if the skin microbiome’s thriving community of bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms are well-balanced, they co-exist together in a complex way that promotes healthy skin and protects the body as nature intended. This is why carefully formulated, targeted skincare products are essential to support the delicate microbiome and ensure it remains healthy,” explains Dr Naidoo. “This is important – not only after surgery but to ensure our skin remains balanced and uncompromised every day.”

Science-led future of skincare

“The skin microbiome is much more than a trend; it’s the scientific future of skincare, healing and anti-ageing. Postbiotics represent the safest, most effective way to protect and repair the skin: from acne-prone teenagers to post-surgery patients and adults seeking timeless skin health. With BiomeRenew, South Africa has placed itself at the forefront of this global movement – offering science-backed, award-winning, proudly local skincare that renews skin and confidence alike,” says Dr Naidoo.

Now, the small skincare solution shared in the consulting rooms of Johannesburg surgeons and dermatologists has grown into one of South Africa’s most innovative skincare brands. Developed exclusively for healthcare, BiomeRenew, the country’s first patented postbiotic skincare range, is available in 100 Clicks stores nationwide and in Eswatini, following a partnership with Clicks South Africa.

“We’re enormously proud that the range was created in South Africa with input from surgeons and dermatologists, and the amazing feedback from the people using these products. Our brand was founded on one belief: healthy skin starts with balance,” says Dr Naidoo.

He says it was important to them that they produced a skincare range with a conscience. “We wanted to ensure BiomeRenew is cruelty-free and entirely plant-based, in keeping with our sustainability-first mindset.”

Recognition and growth

BiomeRenew quickly evolved from niche use to national recognition. With a diverse range that includes a scar cream, daily moisturiser, enriched cream, ointment, cleanser, serum and glycerin bar, the brand addresses a spectrum of skin needs across all life stages: from children to adulthood and during pregnancy.

In 2024, BiomeRenew’s Eczema Moisturiser won Glamour Beauty’s Gold Award – a milestone that confirmed the brand’s relevance beyond medical rooms and into the everyday lives of South Africans.

“Our brand has since been featured in leading aesthetic medicine magazines, consumer lifestyle publications and a number of local newspapers, further cementing its reach from medical professionals to mainstream audiences. BiomeRenew’s formulations and clinical evidence have also been referenced in international scientific journals, validating its role as a pioneer in microbiome-friendly skincare.”

Looking ahead

BiomeRenew continues to expand its footprint, with ongoing research into new formulations and wider distribution plans.

“It’s where medical research and technology meets skincare common sense. This crossover from medicine to everyday skincare is where innovation truly shines,” concludes Dr Naidoo.