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Ask Shahnaz

What is the remedy for stretch marks on the body? — Vasila and Tanveer

Stretch marks form when there is weight loss after weight gain, due to loss of elasticity of the skin. If they are dark, they may fade with time. You can apply til oil daily on the area, massaging it into the skin.

Body scrubs also help. You can mix besan, curd and a little haldi and apply it daily. Wash it off when it dries. Sunscreen lotions provide protection from the damage caused by UV rays. They may not prevent tanning.

My skin becomes dry when exposed to the sun or when I am in an air-conditioned room, but it becomes oily when it is humid or when I apply a moisturiser. — Kadu

This problem may mean that there is dryness of the outermost layer of the skin. Apply a sunscreen lotion before going out. Most sunscreen lotions also moisturise the skin. If you have to spend long hours in an air-conditioned room, apply a moisturiser. Avoid applying moisturisers in humid weather. Use a facial scrub twice or thrice a week. My skin is becoming dull. Please suggest a home remedy. — Veena

You can easily mix a scrub at home. Mix rice powder with curd or rose water. Or, you can mix ground almonds with milk or curd. The scrub should be rubbed gently on the skin and washed off with water.

Do this once or twice a week. Use rose water daily for toning the skin; apply it with cotton wool. Once a week, use a facemask, by mixing three teaspoons of choker with one teaspoon each of ground almonds, curd, egg white (or rose water) and honey. A nutritious diet and exercise also add glow to the skin.

I have a lot of grey hair. I used to apply colour, but it leads to hair loss. — Helen

Henna is the only natural colorant that can be used. Henna will colour the white hair reddish brown. However, amla added to henna is said to check greying. 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 and mix it into a thick paste. Apply this on the hair to cover the entire head. Keep it on for two hours and wash it off with water. The area around my knees and elbows is darker than my usual skin colour. — Nithya

The skin of the elbows and knees is thicker than that of the other parts of the body. Apply til oil daily on the knees and elbows, massaging it into the skin.

While bathing, scrub the areas with a loofah. Rubbing gently with a pumice stone also helps. After bathing, take two lemon halves and rub them on the skin and wash it off after 15 minutes.

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

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