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Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Hussain will offer beauty tips and answer queries. You can send your queries to shahnaz_press@yahoo.co.in

I am a girl aged 22. My skin is badly tanned and my face looks dull. It may be due to the hot and humid climate. I apply curd every morning before my bath. How long should I do this to get back my true colour? Suggest a sunscreen lotion. My arms are also badly tanned. — Kavita

You can use a facial scrub or mask twice a week. Mix three teaspoons of oatmeal with two teaspoons of curd and two teaspoons of rose water. Apply this on the face and wash it off after 20 minutes. For daily application, you can mix one teaspoon of honey and two teaspoons of lemon juice and apply it on the face, washing it off after 20 minutes. This mixture can be made in large quantities for the arms too. Or, you can add a pinch of turmeric to curd and besan (gram flour) and apply the paste daily on the arms, 20 minutes before your bath.

Choose a reputed brand of sunscreen lotion. Add a drop of water to the lotion before applying it to provide a lighter coverage in humid weather.

I have an aloe vera plant at home. Can I use its gel in the natural form in any face pack or scrub? I have dark circles under my eyes. Suggest a remedy other than potato slices. My hair is also very thin. — Gowri

The fleshy part of the plant can be broken off and the gel applied on the face. It would help soften the skin. However, in creams and lotions, the aloe vera gel is stabilised and then used. This is more effective and facilitates better absorption by the skin. You can add honey to face packs, as it would also help moisturise and soften the skin like aloe vera.

You can mix cucumber juice and lemon juice in equal quantities and apply it around the eyes daily and wash it off after 15 minutes. Henna applications will help give body to your hair. Add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough curd to the henna powder and make a thick paste.

Apply it on the hair and wash it off after an hour.

If you do not wish to use egg, add more curd. Henna will change the colour of white hair into a reddish brown. It will not colour black hair.

My daily routine does not permit me to exercise. Suggest the right diet I could eat outside and a few exercises. I was in good shape a year ago. Now I have developed a paunch. — Rajan

Routine exercising does not take much time. Also, one has to make time for it. Yoga would be ideal. Why not join yoga classes, or a gym? You can try the following exercises for the abdomen and the waist, but consult your doctor before starting on any form of exercise and making changes in your diet. Stand straight, feet slightly apart and then bend sideways to the right. The right arm should relax by your side while the left arm should rest on the head. Bend as far right as possible. Come back to position and do the same towards the left, reversing the arm positions. Do this five times on each side. Lie on the floor on your back, with feet together and arms at the sides. Lift the legs about six inches above the ground and hold the position for a count of ten. Then lower the legs to the floor. Repeat this three to four times and increase gradually. Go for a low-fat diet, have more fruits, salads, lightly cooked vegetables, chapattis instead of white bread, cut down on your intake of rice and sweets.

My skin is dry and I have freckles or pigmentation, with slight brown round patches on my cheeks and forehead. The upper lip also has dark spots on both sides. I had done crystal peeling, but it did not help. — Farhat

The first aspect of treatment of skin pigmentation is protection. You should apply a sunscreen with a high SPF of 20 plus, 20 minutes before sun-exposure. If you stay out in the sun for more than 20 to 30 minutes, you should re-apply the sunscreen. Since this column deals with home remedies, you can mix half a teaspoon of honey with one teaspoon of lemon juice and apply it daily on the dark patches. Wash it off after 20 minutes. Use a facial scrub on the dark patches two or three times a week.

I am 16. I have shoulder length curly hair. But for a long period of time, it has not grown and I am worried about it. For the past one month, there has been severe hair loss. I also have dandruff. Suggest some home remedies. — Ancy Michael

The length of your hair depends on hereditary factors. You should ensure adequate protein in your daily diet, which is available in pulses, sprouts, soyabean, curd, eggs, paneer, fish and chicken. Dandruff may be causing the hair loss.

Try the hot oil therapy followed by lemon juice application suggested earlier in these columns. You can also mix half a teaspoon of ground methi seeds with oil and apply it on the scalp. Keep it on for an hour and wash your hair, rinsing it thoroughly. Or, you can apply a herbal hair tonic daily. Ask your doctor to prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements.

I am a boy aged 18. I have a problem of pimples. When I squeeze the pimples on my face, they start spreading. Is there any natural way to get rid of them? I also have a hereditary problem of hair loss. What should I do? I have tried many medicines. Is there some natural way? — Silver Prince

Stop squeezing the pimples. This can worsen the condition cause the condition to spread and leave marks. Apply curd on the face daily and wash it off after 20 minutes. Apply sandalwood paste on the pimples. Apply a herbal hair tonic daily. Ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamins B-Complex and C.

I am 14 and have black patches around my mouth. It looks awful. Suggest a remedy. — Mekala

You can use a facial scrub daily on the areas with dark patches, rubbing gently on the skin and washing it off with water. Mix one teaspoon of honey with two teaspoons of lemon juice and apply it daily on the dark areas, washing it off with water after 20 minutes.

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