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Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Hussain offers tips and answers queries. You can send your queries to shahnaz_press@yahoo.co.in

I would like to know whether sitting in an air-conditioned room continuously would darken the skin. If so, what should be done to prevent it? I am fair and have normal skin. — Sunitha

Sitting in an air-conditioned room will not change the colour of the skin. However, it may leave the skin dry, since air-conditioning reduces humidity or moisture. This may make the skin appear slightly dark. Also, lack of moisture in the skin may make it more vulnerable to sun-exposure. You should keep your skin well-moisturised. You can apply a sunscreen before going out in the sun.

During the day, wipe the skin with a wet tissue or cleansing pad (both are available) and then apply a moisturising lotion. You can follow a nighttime routine. First cleanse the skin with a cleansing gel, or wash with a mild glycerine soap. Then apply a nourishing cream and massage it on the skin with a few drops of water. Wipe it off with moist cotton wool.

Apply honey on the face daily and wash it off after 20 minutes. It helps keep the skin soft and healthy.

I don't have pimples, but tiny pores on my cheeks. I want to have smooth skin. I have another problem. Whatever sandals I wear, my sandals leave an impression on my feet. I heard that if you apply honey, the hair on the face will turn brown. Is it true? — Niharika

The pores are visible because they have become enlarged due to oiliness of the skin. Using a facial scrub daily helps keep the pores oil-free. Mix oatmeal with egg white and apply it on the enlarged pores, washing it off when it dries. Try wearing loose sandals. There may be some water retention, which causes the feet to swell, leaving the impression. Consult your doctor regarding this. There is no evidence that honey bleaches the hair. If it did, the skin colour would become lighter too.

I am 21 and have a lot of hair on my hands and legs. I have tried waxing, but whenever I do this, pimples erupt and spread all over the body leaving marks. I am undergoing treatment suggested by a skin specialist and am using a sunscreen as my skin is very sensitive. Please suggest a permanent solution. — Satya

Your skin may be reacting because it is sensitive. You could try waxing on a small area at another beauty salon and see if the same problem occurs. Immediately after waxing, apply an astringent, or wrap ice cubes in a cloth and apply it on the skin to help close the pores. You can also try cold wax and see if it suits your skin better.

I am 14. Due to the heat, I have got boils all over my face. I have tried many home remedies, but they do not seem to work. — Sukanya

The boils may be acne, which tends to flare up in summer, when the skin gets oilier. Perspiration compounds the problem. So, wash your face with a medicated soap. Mix rose water and witch hazel in equal quantities and keep it in the fridge. Using cotton wool pads, apply it on the face and the affected areas on the body twice or thrice a day. It will cool the skin and close the pores. Witch hazel should be available at a pharmacy. Add rose water to sandalwood paste and apply it. Wash it off with plain water after 20 to 30 minutes.

I have dry skin with facial hair. I had bleaching and steaming done at a beauty parlour and the hair has turned golden brown. I do not like this look. What kind of facial should I go in for to remove the hair? My lips are dark at the edges. Please suggest remedies. — Priya Darshini

Facials will not help remove the hair. You will have to get it removed by threading or waxing at a beauty parlour. These are temporary methods. You can also try laser therapy, which is said to be a permanent method of hair removal. However, it is expensive. You will also have to find a reputed laser clinic. Find out the cost and the number of sessions required. For the lips, apply almond oil or a good almond cream daily. Apply sunscreen before going out.

I used to have thick and long hair. Nowadays, my hair is falling and I can also see grey hair. I am using only coconut oil. Please advise. — Ramya

Hair loss can be due to several reasons such as nutritional deficiencies, dandruff, stress, hair damage and thyroid imbalance. Mix half a teaspoon of castor oil with pure coconut oil. Heat it and apply it on the scalp and the hair the night before shampooing. Use a mild herbal shampoo and rinse thoroughly with water. Henna treatment with amla will help check greying and restore hair health. Soak a handful of dry amla in about two to three cups of water overnight. Next morning, strain the water, but do not throw it away. Grind the amla. To the henna powder, add the ground amla, four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs and enough amla water, so that the henna becomes a thick paste. Apply it on the hair to cover the entire head. Keep it on for two hours and wash it off with water. Eat a small bowl of sprouts daily and ask your doctor to prescribe Vitamins B-Complex and C.

I have a mole on my nose and it looks odd. Is there any herbal treatment to remove it? — Priya

Home remedies will not help remove moles. Moreover, one has to exercise caution with moles. You should consult a dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon. Moles may be removed surgically or through laser treatment.

I have dandruff, which is yellowish and sticky. It remains so even after shampooing. I also have an oily T-zone. Please suggest a home remedy. — Hemalatha

Hot oil therapy will help loosen the dandruff flakes. Twice a week, heat pure coconut oil or til oil and apply it on the scalp with cotton wool, rubbing gently to dislodge the flakes. Tie a scarf/cloth around the head and leave the oil on overnight. Next morning, apply the juice of a lemon on the scalp and wash your hair after half an hour. For some time, you need to wash your hair daily. Use less shampoo, diluting it with water and apply. Rinse thoroughly with water. Henna treatment (as suggested earlier in this column) will also help. To the henna powder, add four teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, two raw eggs, two teaspoons of oil and enough tea water, so that the henna can be mixed into a thick paste. Apply it on the hair, so that the entire head is covered. Keep it on for two hours and wash it off with water. To make tea water, boil used tealeaves in enough water. Cool and add it to the henna. Mix one part of rose water with two parts of astringent. Using cotton wool, wipe the oily areas with this lotion two or three times a day.

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