How Can I get Rid of Brown Sun Spots on My Face?

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Oh, the dreaded sun spot! These flat brown imperfections can be really frustrating to deal with. You may find them difficult to fully conceal with makeup, and they tend to stand out when you aren’t wearing makeup. State-of-the-art non-surgical treatments offered by Dr. Renuka Diwan can help reduce or eliminate the appearance of these brown spots.

Sun spots are a common cosmetic issue for people who want an even complexion but sometimes they may be pre-cancers or early skin cancers, or other benign brown spots. It’s best to consult Dr Renuka Diwan, a board-certified dermatologist, first to confirm that the brown spots on your skin are in fact only sun spots. Also called “liver spots,” true sun spots are harmless and won’t affect your health. There may be a few treatments that are a good match for lightening your sun damage. One of the most common for brown spots is intense pulsed light (IPL). Pulses of high-intensity light absorbed safely by the skin destroy the excess melanin causing the sun spot. The IPL treatment is non-surgical and causes little to no discomfort. A numbing cream is applied to the skin beforehand. Right after the treatment the brown spots will appear darker and may have some redness and swelling but you’ll be able to get right back to your day afterward.

Other options include:

  • Chemical peels (causes the surface skin cells containing pigment to peel off, and are replaced with fresh skin cells)
  • Microdermabrasion (an abrasive tip is used to whisk away surface skin cells)
  • Laser resurfacing (safely vaporizes skin cells to remove the brown spot)
  • Topical treatment regimens that lighten brown spots after a few weeks of consistent use.

Sun spots are caused by sun exposure, so remember to wear sunblock if you’ll be outdoors. Use an SPF-30 or higher sunscreen generously. A wide-brimmed hat is an important addition on sunny days.

Are you unhappy with the appearance of brown spots, redness or other sun damage on your face, hands, neck, chest or other sun-exposed parts of your body? If so, Dr. Renuka Diwan can help you find a treatment plan that works for your goals. To learn more, and to arrange a consultation in Westlake, Ohio, please call The Laser & Skin Surgery Center at 440-871-9832.

Skin Care for the Ohio Winter Season

Close-up portrait of blonde beautiful young woman smiling wearing winter jacket, gray knitted hat and pink scarf, posing outdoors in the park on snowing winter day.
Brrr! The extended forecast predicts chilly, snowy weather ahead for the Westlake area. As we turn up our heaters to stay toasty warm indoors, that hot, dry air can take a toll on your skin. Dryness, flakiness and the dreaded “winter itch” are common.

At The Laser & Skin Surgery Center, Dr. Renuka Diwan offers a wide array of non-surgical and surgical facial treatments, as well as premium skin care treatments. Hydrating facial treatments are a great way to boost skin hydration and get a youthful glow. But there are also steps you can take at home to combat the drying effects of winter:

  • Drink water to keep your body hydrated. It will show up in the appearance of your skin. Dull, dehydrated skin looks lackluster. Avoid overdoing it on alcoholic beverages, because they will dehydrate you.
  • Avoid stripping natural moisturizing substances from your skin. Long, hot showers – which feel like such an obvious solution on a chilly day – tend to strip your skin of its natural moisturizing factors and lead to flaky, dry skin. Don’t max out your shower time, and keep the temperature warm to lukewarm.
  • Lock in moisture. Use a lotion, body oil or other moisturizer after you get out of the shower and towel off. Doing so will lock moisture into your dewy, shower-fresh skin.
  • Bundle up! Gloves, hat and a scarf will act as a protective barrier when you go outside in cold temperatures and wind.
  • Don’t forget sunscreen. It’s easy to think you can skip sunscreen in the winter. It’s cold, often cloudy, the sunshine is less intense, but it’s still important to protect your skin from UV radiation. If you plan to be outside for an extended time, apply an SPF-30 or higher sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage.
  • Point heating vents in your vehicle away from your face. You get in the car in the morning and what’s the first thing you do? Probably fire up the heat to get warm. Direct the vents away so they aren’t pointing at your face. The steady blast of dry, hot air can definitely lead to dry, itchy skin.

Ready for a customized hydrating skin treatment? Please contact the practice of Dr. Renuka Diwan. Call our team in Westlake at 440-871-9832.

Say Goodbye to Spider Veins on your legs

1543266824161-diwan-nov18 Spider veins on the legs can be a source of real concern for many women. These reddish-blue and purple discolorations can ruin your self-esteem and leave you covering up the area at all costs. But if shorts, skirts, and bathing suits are hidden in the back of your closet because of this unattractive condition, it’s time to do something about it. Sclerotherapy is the gold standard for treatment of spider veins on the legs. Laser treatment is also an option. What’s Behind the Appearance of Spider Veins Continue reading Say Goodbye to Spider Veins on your legs

Dermaplaning – the little extra that goes a long way

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A great facial treatment for today’s busy lifestyle, dermaplaning immediately improves the appearance of your face with no downtime.

How Does Dermaplaning Work?

Also referred to as dermablading, the procedure is carefully performed with a fine blade, by our credentialed staff, without the need for any anesthetic. There are no needles, cuts or injections that penetrate the skin. The treatment is completely non-invasive, as the blade’s edge just removes what’s unwanted on the surface of your skin to address many common skin issues, including those caused by sun damage and time:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Brown discoloration
  • Clogged pores and acne
  • Dull complexion
  • Dry or rough texture
  • Fine vellus hair, called “peach fuzz”

In 25-30 minutes, dermaplaning reveals soft, smooth skin by removing the excess build up of “dead cells” and debris on the surface of the face and sweeping away “peach fuzz” (fine hair). (See our video on our Facebook page). By eliminating surface debris, the technique not only restores a glow to your skin, it also removes the debris blocking pores and improves acne. Superficial fine wrinkles and pigmentation on the skin are also improved by dermaplaning. Removing the excess build up of dead cells and debris from the surface enhances the penetration and effectiveness of skin care products optimizing the results. The removal of “peach fuzz” helps make up go on more smoothly.

These effects of dermaplaning give your skin additional enhancement after other rejuvenating treatments such as Botox and filler injections, making it a great add-on procedure for even better results! Dermaplaning is perfect for both men and women of any skin type—fair to dark. Monthly maintenance treatments keep your skin at its best.

Does Dermaplaning Hurt?

Unlike other “non-surgical” treatments, this procedure is There are no injections or needles penetrating your skin to cause micro-injuries.

Get that Glow Back with Dermaplaning in Westlake, OH Dermaplaning is a safe and effective procedure for many common skin concerns. If you’d like to schedule dermaplaning for your best look for the holidays, contact us now to schedule your initial consultation at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center.

Wipe Out Unwanted Hairs with Laser Hair Removal

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With summer approaching, it’s almost time to put away the sweater and pull out your new bathing suit. But getting ready for sunny days and nicer weather isn’t just about your wardrobe and getting your body bikini-ready. Unsightly dark hair growth that you may have forgotten about, while you were bundled up this past winter, may become the center of attention in summer’s more revealing outfits. That’s why now is the best time to banish the unwanted hair for good with laser hair removal.

Why Choose Laser Hair Removal?

So many women and men look to laser hair removal with Dr. Diwan because they are tired of the constant maintenance. Keeping up with unwanted hair can cost you lots of unnecessary time and money over the course of adulthood. There’s also the physical pain of waxing, shaving, and tweezing that you could certainly live without. Laser hair removal also helps to prevent side effects from traditional hair removal methods. Ingrown hairs from all the plucking, pulling, and pruning can be painful, can get infected, cause scarring, can look even worse than the original hair growth, and be problematic when its time to shave or wax again. Many people have sensitive skin and develop razor burn easily. Avoiding moles and natural bumps can also be a challenge, especially if you find yourself in a hurry.

A Closer Look at Hair Growth

The most effective results come over a series of treatment sessions at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center. That’s because all your hair doesn’t grow at the same time or rate.  Each individual hair follicle has its own growth cycle. There are three stages of hair growth: the anagen or active growth stage is when the root of the hair follicle is growing, and attached to, a visible darkly pigmented hair and the ideal period for laser removal.  The laser energy is absorbed by the pigment or color in the hair and the root of the hair follicle.  A hair follicle in the anagen phase is, therefore, a good target and is affected by laser hair removal.  Hair follicles in the resting or telogen phase, and the transitional or catagen phase, when hair is absent or unattached to the root are not affected by laser treatment.  If all hair follicles were simultaneously in the same phase, we would become bald when they were all simultaneously in the resting phase!  It can take several weeks to months for hair to grow and these cycles can vary from person to person. This is why it takes multiple treatments over time to target all the hair follicles in an area. It’s important to understand this in order to achieve the best possible results. Committing to laser hair removal and keeping up with your appointments will ensure you’re hair-free as fast as possible.  Please note that laser hair removal is not effective for non-pigmented hair (white or blonde) and less effective for lightly pigmented hair (light brown or red).

Preparing for Your Hair Removal Session

It is vital to avoid tweezing, waxing, Vaniqa hair reduction cream and electrolysis for 6-8 weeks prior to treatment. These hair removal methods remove hair at the root. Removing pigmented hair removes the target (the pigment in dark hair) for the laser and reduces the number of follicles that the laser can have an effect on. It’s also wise to refrain from any sun exposure of the areas being treated.

Laser Hair Removal in Westlake, Ohio

Get rid of unwanted hair just in time for summer. If you are interested in learning more about laser hair removal in the Cleveland area, or any of the other services offered by Dr. Diwan, please contact us at 440.871.9832 to schedule your initial consultation at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center today.

 

Why Now Is the Time for Men’s Non-surgical Aesthetic Procedures

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Cosmetic procedures aren’t just for women, and men care just as much about having a confident, youthful appearance. At the Laser and Skin Surgery Center in Westlake, Dr. Diwan offers a number of nonsurgical procedures that enhance a man’s appearance.  If you are interested in improving your appearance, but aren’t ready to go under the knife, there are many options at The Laser and Skin Surgery Center – especially for men!

Continue reading Why Now Is the Time for Men’s Non-surgical Aesthetic Procedures

What Is Dermaplaning?

Diwan_DermaplaningWhen you wake up and take a look in the mirror–fresh in the morning and sans makeup–is your skin as smooth as you would like it to be? If you are like most men and women, vellus hair (peach fuzz) and dull skin get in the way of achieving truly touchable and glowing skin. However, you don’t have to accept this as your permanent skin situation!

Many patients have come into Dr. Diwan’s Westlake office with one specific question: “how do I get rid of peach fuzz?” To these women, Dr. Diwan often recommends dermaplaning for a brighter, smoother complexion. Here are some important things to know when considering this popular skin treatment.

What Is Dermaplaning?

Even as women, we have our fair share of “facial hair”–or as what we like to call: peach fuzz. These small, barely visible hairs on your chin, cheeks, and forehead often get in the way of having silky smooth skin. Dermaplaning is a treatment that allows you to eliminate that top layer of dead skin cells (aka exfoliation) and peach fuzz, leaving you with smooth, soft and brighter skin. You may not even realize how much hair you really have until you are hair free!

At the Laser & Skin Surgery Center, our trained and certified staff use a sharp blade to precisely scrape off the top layer to reveal a fresher, more youthful appearance. Dermaplaning is a simple concept with unbelievably exciting results. It’s pain-free and quick, with no recovery time–what more could you ask from your skincare treatment?

Benefits of Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning has numerous benefits that have made this simple procedure popular among Dr. Diwan’s patients. These benefits include:
• Removal of vellus hair (peach fuzz)
• Exfoliation for improved skin tone
• Improved skin texture
• Brag-worthy softness
• Improved penetration of skin care products
• Results that last for weeks (approximately 3 weeks depending on the patient)
Our patients love how dermaplaning allows for easier makeup application and skin so soft that it’s hard NOT to touch it.

Is Dermaplaning Right for Me?

Dermaplaning is for individuals who wish to improve the texture of their skin, remove unwanted vellus hair, or achieve radiant skin by the removal of dead skin cells. Due to the process of gently scraping the top layer of skin, dermaplaning may not be a good match for those with acne or overly sensitive skin.
If you have concerns regarding your skin’s reaction to dermaplaning, please discuss your concerns with Dr. Renuka Diwan during your initial consultation. At this time, she will share with you any recommendations for optimal skin results.

If you are interested in dermaplaning at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center, please don’t hesitate to schedule your initial consultation today.

What You Need to Know About Scar Revision

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Over the course of time, a variety of conditions can leave scars on the skin. Scars may be a result of chickenpox, acne, injuries and accidents, surgeries such as mole removal or skin cancer removal, and other causes.  When scars are visible, especially on the face, understandably they can cause distress and self-consciousness.  Trying to figure out your options for scar treatment based on lay information can lead to confusion and frustration. Continue reading What You Need to Know About Scar Revision

Am I A Good Candidate For Liposuction?

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Liposuction is a very popular fat reduction and contouring procedure that helps many people every year achieve their body goals. It helps get rid of the stubborn fat that’s been haunting you around your double chin and neck, stomach, back, love handles, legs and arms.  However, liposuction isn’t the right procedure for everyone. Men and women come to consult with Dr. Diwan at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center curious if this life-changing procedure is the right procedure for them. If you are curious if liposuction is for you, check our list of criteria below, that makes one a good liposuction candidate.

Liposuction Candidates

A good candidate for liposuction at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center meets the following criteria:

  • Healthy individual above the age of 18 years
  • Stubborn areas of fat on the body that refuse to leave despite regular exercise and a healthy diet
  • At or close to ideal body weight.
  • Realistic expectations from liposuction
  • Committed to maintaining healthy weight through diet and exercise
  • Interested in a procedure that achieves results with a single treatment
  • Prioritizes a procedure performed with local anesthesia so you can be awake for the entire liposuction process
  • Requires a short recovery time (liposuction patients are back to work in just 3 days )

Liposuction In Cleveland

At the Laser & Skin Surgery Center, liposuction is performed with an emphasis on your safety, with local anesthesia (and oral medication to help you relax) to ensure a comfortable procedure. Dr. Diwan will make numb the skin to make an entry incision for a cannula to suction out the unwanted fat from the chin, chest, stomach, buttocks, hips, thighs, legs, and arms. Once the fat in the targeted area is removed, a couple of stiches close the incision and the liposuction procedure is complete. Removing the stubborn fat and improving your contour is as simple as that!

Liposuction can help boost your confidence in your appearance by streamlining your form, and improving the quality of your life with a simple, safe office procedure, that promotes a quick recovery.

It is equally important to understand what liposuction does not achieve. Dr. Diwan wants you to know that liposuction is:

  • Not going to make you skinny (it will help give you better proportions, but not make you thin)
  • Not for weight loss or a treatment of obesity (liposuction is best to get rid of pockets of fat on your body that cannot be reduced with diet and exercise)
  • Not for improvement of Diabetes control
  • Not for reduction of cardiac risk factors

Begin Your Liposuction Journey Today

We know how frustrating it can be when fat persists in problem areas despite your best efforts to lose it.  Strict diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle often aren’t enough to get rid of that double chin, muffin top, tummy fat or love handles. Now, you don’t need to live feeling discouraged any longer.  We have seen how liposuction can help men and women in the Cleveland area look great and feel confident.

If you believe you are a good candidate for liposuction and would like to begin your liposuction journey today, call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Diwan today.

Skincare Tips for the Colder Weather

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Summer has come and gone.  In Ohio, it has left telltale signs of sun damage on the skin of many.  As the chill of fall arrives it presents a great opportunity to focus on repairing sun damage.  It’s also a great time to prepare for the colder weather ahead by adjusting your skin care regimen.  At the Laser & Skin Surgery Center, we offer a number of skin care treatments and skin care products (skincare lines and treatments) to restore the health of your skin and keep it looking its best. Continue reading Skincare Tips for the Colder Weather