Q: I am 26 years old. I've got a normal skin and my complexion is dull. I wanted to ask you if there are any side effects of whitening facial. Can you please explain what do they actually do in parlours for making skin white? Is it okay if I do it once a month? Saima, Peshawar
A: It all depends on the quality of products used in whitening facial. If you have allergy to some of its component you may get allergic to it but most of the good quality products used in facials are hypoallergenic that means there are very minimal chances of acquiring allergy from it. If your skin is too sensitive then you should warn your beautician about it so if bleach is included in the facial it could be adjusted to your skin requirement and other product that could cause you some trouble may be checked before use on your skin. Normally whitening facial requires multiple sitting for having better prominent results, it depends on your skin and product how much time period there should be between two facial sittings. It is important that you choose a good beautician with good skin knowledge for having your facial done.

Q: How can I remove hairs from my tummy, back and chest areas? Can I use epilator on these areas? Shabana
A: There are different methods for hair removal like waxing, shaving, laser treatment and so on and you can adopt any one of them according to your need. Yes, you can use epilator on these areas.

Q: I am 33 years old and have a problem of open pores like chicken pox marks. Please suggest some home remedy to get rid of this poblem and also for fair complexion. Sobia
A: There is no permanent remedy for open pores unless you try some laser treatment. But you can reduce the size of the pores with the following home remedies:
After cleansing the face use a toner on regular basis; it would help tighten the open pores. Wash your face with cold water. Applying ice on the pores would also help tighten them. Whenever you step out, you can hide these pores by using a foundation with sunscreen. Wash it off when you reach home or before going to bed and follow up with a toner. If the pores are specifically on the nose then they might be accompanied with blackheads. Remove the blackheads regularly with the help of blackhead removal strips available in the market or simply take steam to make the facial skin soft and then remove the blackheads easily. Scrub your face on regular basis to prevent the pores from getting blocked with dirt.
An effective remedy for getting fair skin is a mixture of honey and milk powder. This will not only improve the texture of the skin but will also enhance its glow. All you need to do is make a thin paste of milk powder and honey till it gets to a pasty consistency; apply this evenly over your face, and wash it off once it dries up.

Q: I am a 25-year-old girl. I have normal skin. I will be getting married after six months. Please tell me how can I cleanse my skin daily for shining and whitening. I have white heads on my nose and also have dark eye circles. Please also give some tips for beautiful hands. Ayesha
A: For having a good skin, care routine is an important thing. First step is to know your skin type. Cleanse well. The trick is finding a cleanser that works well for your skin. Once you have found the right one, stick with it. They can be tough to find. Liquid facial cleansers tend to work best. Shy away from bar soaps; they are drying, and aren't designed to handle the delicacy of facial skin. Exfoliate. Many people miss this step in their daily skin care routine, but it's very important in refreshing the skin as it scrubs away the dead skin cells that can cause pore clogging, dry skin and even acne. For the cheapest, do-it-at-home fix, find a scrub that includes exfoliating beads or particles. Exfoliate just once a week. Skip toner. Some people swear by them, but many experts feel that a good cleanser removes all remaining traces of oil, make-up and dirt. Toner isn't necessary. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. No matter what your skin type is, it should be moisturised well. Even oily skin can benefit from an oil-free moisturiser. The face and body should be moisturised properly, but special formulas should be used for the face. Your skin will indicate how often you need to complete this step. If it feels dry, it needs a drink. Don't over-moisturise as it can lead to clogged pores. Apply sunscreen. Dermatologists agree that sunscreen is the most important aspect of your skin care regimen. Choose a daily moisturiser with UV protection and get two benefits in one. Avoid moisturisers with sunscreen built in at night, as the ingredients aren't meant to be used 24/7.
You can make your skin soft, supple, and glowing by using this remedy. Mash a banana with milk and apply on face and leave it for 20 minutes. Wash it with cold water to get a glowing skin. The use of orange peels with a little yogurt gives you a fair skin. You can dry some orange peels in the sun and then shred them. These shreds have to be grounded into a fine powder and mixed with yogurt. Leave this mixture on your face and wash it off. Do this twice a day for a visible difference. For dark circles a mixture of almond oil and honey should be applied on the affected area every night before bedtime. You will see a remarkable improvement in two to three weeks.

Q: I have marks on my face left by pimples. Please help me get rid of them. Momina
A: A teaspoon of coriander juice mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder is also considered an effective remedy to treat acne scars naturally. Intake of garlic as well as rubbing garlic on affected areas can prove beneficial in treating acne scars.

Q: I am a 42-year-old woman. I have wrinkles and melasma on my face. Further, my skin is dull and the pores of my skin are opened. Kindly tell me the treatment. Anjum
A: As we age, our skin develops what is commonly called age spots, which resemble small freckles visible on the hands, arms and face. Melasma is also considered an age spot, but this particular condition appears as a larger patch of dark skin. Both age spots and melasmas can be treated with the same home remedies.
Put an onion in a food processor or blender and puree the onion until you get a good amount of its juice. Combine the juice with an equal amount of white vinegar, and soak a cotton ball or tissue in the solution. Swab the discoloured area of skin twice a day with this solution. Do not rinse off the solution and leave the skin to air-dry. Repeat the process for a few weeks and you will see the dark splotches lighten. It would be wise to apply the solution when you do not need to be out in public.
Although, once formed, wrinkles are very difficult to get rid off. Their appearance however can be diminished to some extent by following a few simple home remedies. Vitamin E oil serves as a great remedy for this condition. Empty the contents of one vitamin E capsule into a bowl. You may use more capsules depending on the area of concern. Gently massage a few drops of this oil onto the affected area 2-3 times a day. This remedy should be performed regularly if one is to achieve the desired results. Mix together half a teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey with two teaspoons of plain yogurt. To this, you will now need to add the contents of three vitamin E capsules. Mix the ingredients well and apply the mixture on to the concerned area with the help of a cotton ball. Rinse the application off with lukewarm water after about 10-15 minutes.