The beauty spot

Pamper yourself with skincare tips from our expert

I am 18 years old, and I have a lot of facial hair (around my jawline and on my cheeks). I can’t opt for waxing as it is too painful and I don’t know about the reaction it might have on my skin. I can’t opt for the laser treatment because my parents will not allow me to do so. Is there any other way to deal with this embarrassing problem?

— Varsha Shidling

Facial hair can be a disturbing condition. It is good that you have not gone for waxing, as it could have resulted in rash or acne. Laser hair reduction would have been the ideal line of treatment in your case. But since you are not able to go for that too, you could either bleach to camouflage the hair or simply shave it off. Shaving will not make your hair coarser and neither will it have any negative impact on your skin.

I am in my late 30s and I have recently noticed some discolouration on my cheeks and forehead. I first thought this was an allergic reaction to make-up and so I stopped using products. But that seems to have made no difference. What should I do? Can you suggest some natural remedies? — Maya Kannadas

The discolouration that you have been noticing could be melasma (pigmentation on cheeks and nose), which is commonly seen after pregnancy and childbirth. When you are in your late 30s, the body experiences a hormonal change (depletion of oestrogen), which can further aggravate these dark spots. The management of melasma is challenging and requires a long-term treatment plan. In addition to avoiding aggravating factors like sun exposure, topical therapy has remained the mainstay of treatment. A medicated repair agent, containing AHA, berry extracts, vitamin C etc, prescribed by a physician, will be more effective than a night cream bought over the counter.

There are a number of AHA peels, which can be done to brighten the skin, lessen the pigmented spots and acne scars, and some are done just for skin rejuvenation. But these peels again should be done after proper skin analysis and under medical supervision.

My long and lustrous hair has become dry and brittle because of long hours in the sun and in the pool. How do I reverse the effects of the sun and chlorine? — Elena Pinto

Exposure to the sun and humidity levels at the poolside can make hair rough, coarse and unmanageable. As soon as you are out of the pool, rinse off the water from your hair. Later use gentle cleansing shampoos. Towel dry the hair and run a wide-toothed comb over the damp strands. Take a generous amount of hair mask or deep conditioner and apply on the hair shaft. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Preferably wrap a hot towel around it. Wash it off with cold water. Do this routine once every 15 days and stay away from heat treatments like ironing and blow drying for some days.

Founder of SkinLab, Dr Jamuna Pai is a cosmetic physician