Skin Woes

Q: My problem is my skin that is very rough and has no attraction. I am 28-year-old but I look far older than my actual age. Kindly tell me how can I maintain my face and skin. Someone told me that papaya has an anti-aging properties. If it is true then kindly tell me what is the best time to eat papaya. Also recommend me a mask that I can apply on my skin. I have combination skin. M. Irfan
A: Papaya provides a natural face lift and rejuvenation and brings a wonderful and natural glow to the skin. Papaya contains papain, an enzyme that effectively lightens the skin complexion. Papaya also contains vitamin C and is a good source of vitamin E and beta-carotene. These three powerful antioxidants control premature ageing. For making mask, wash the ripe papaya. Peel, remove seeds, and dice. Simply mash the papaya in a bowl with a fork so it doesn't become too runny and easy to mash. Mix with a tablespoon of a natural honey. Apply the mask on face for 15 minutes avoiding the eye area. After 15 minutes use a clean-wet towel then wipe gently to exfoliate the skin then wash with warm water. Pat dry and see the wonder results.

Q: I’m 20 and a little worried about my skin. I want it to glow and also to become fairer. What do you think about whitening creams. I prefer home remedies though. I have clear skin and a pale, fair complexion. I want a bit pinkish complexion. Doctors have always said that my body produces insufficient blood. What should I do for that? Please suggest the best home remedies. Bia
A: You have not told me whether you are undergoing allopathic treatment for your problem or even what the problem really is. I suggest you consult a doctor and get a cure for it. Increase the intake of iron-rich nutrients such as green vegetables and try to keep it balanced. I cannot comment on any specific cream. Any way, I am giving you an effective home remedy for whitening: Grind fruit (orange, lemon) and vegetable (cucumber) peels in a mixer. Apply the mixture as a face-mask and wash it off after 20 minutes. Try this for a week, once daily, for improvement in your facial skin. For glowing skin try this alternative face mask: mix sandalwood paste and milk in a 1:3 ratio and rub on your face and hands. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash off for glowing, lovely-smelling skin.

Q: I am 13 years old. I want my complexion to become much fairer, and my nails and hair to grow long very fast. Also my aunt is 30 years old and her skin is very oily. Please give me good tips, especially for a skin whitening. I will be very grateful if you reply because then I can try this stuff on Eid. Ayesha Hameed
A: Dear teenager, home remedies would best suit your needs but you have to maintain general hygiene and a balanced diet to get all your problems solved. Taking vitamin supplements helps to have healthy nails. Keep your nails well groomed; not too long and not too short. The right vitamins and minerals play a major role in keeping your hair healthy. It is important to include vitamins B-6 and B-9, biotin and inositol in your vitamin supplement. Beta-carotene is also essential to hair growth because it is converted to vitamin A by the body. It is found in green and yellow vegetables and fruits. Avoid use of hot water, blow dryers or other hair-care tools that may damage the hair. Have a weekly scalp massage to provide stimulation to the hair follicles. For whitening, both you and your aunt can use this facial mask. The ingredients are as follows: 2 spoonfuls of gram flour, 1 pinch of turmeric powder, a few drops of milk cream, a few drops of lemon juice. Mix these to make a fine paste and evenly spread it on the skin. Wait until it dries out fully, then scrub it off. You can apply it to all parts of the body.

Q: My problem is combination skin. In winters when I apply any kind of moisturizer it gives my skin an oily look but if I don’t apply moisturizer my skin becomes dry. Kindly suggest some good moisturizing lotions or creams that solve my skin problems. Faryal
A: To find the perfect moisturizer for combination-type skin one needs to look harder, because though there are many moisturizers available for dry and oily skin types, there is only a limited number of products available for combination skin care. Jojoba oil is the best oil to use for skin moisturizing. It is a natural product that moisturizes without adding any grease to the skin because it gets quickly absorbed. Also, it allows the skin to breathe as it doesn't clog the pores. Jojoba oil is similar to human sebum, and thus it can actually help to change the dry skin to normal because it tricks the body into believing it to be sebum.

Q: I am a 20-year-old girl. I have dark circles around my eyes. Please tell me a fast and effective remedy to get rid of dark circles. Mahira Siddiqui
A: Dark eye circles can be diminished somewhat with home remedies. These remedies can be even more effective when combined with products for dark circles. Please be cautious when applying anything to the sensitive skin around the eyes. The skin around the eyes is very sensitive so don't rub, scratch or exfoliate enthusiastically. This recipe comes from a fashion model in India. She uses this preparation on her dark circles every morning before covering them up with a thick concealer. You will need 1 teaspoon tomato juice, 3-4 drops of lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder and enough white flour to make a paste. Combine these ingredients together to form a medium-thick paste and dab it under your eyes. After fifteen minutes, wash the paste away. This would lighten the dark circles.

Q: I am a 21-year-old girl and I have some brown acne spots on my face. Please suggest a good fading cream or some effective home remedy. Maham Ali
A: Dear, here is a home remedy which is effective yet cost friendly. Tomato and cucumber combined can greatly reduce the visibility of acne scars. Using a tomato and cucumber face mask also tightens the pores of the skin giving it a nice, even texture. Try this once every two days for ten days and enjoy the difference.