I am a teenaged girl and I have patchy underarms. Is there a home remedy I can use to reduce the darkness?

I would suggest that you find out your blood sugar levels and keep a check on your health. Besides this, mix 2tbsp each of orange peel powder, rice powder, lemon peel powder and oatmeal with milk and lemon juice and apply on the skin. When it is dry, dab with water and scrub in a rotating manner and wash off with water. Also keep your armpits dry and clean at all times.

I have dry skin and my work needs me to spend long hours in front of the computer in an air-conditioned room. At the end of the day, I find that my face turns a shade darker. What can I do to prevent it?

Air-conditioned environments make the skin dehydrated and dry. You should drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and also use a moisturiser on the skin. If you are using a sunscreen, ensure that it is a moisturising one. At home, massage the skin with a teaspoon of honey and wash off after five minutes. I believe that honey is one of nature’s best natural moisturisers and keeps the skin hydrated and glowing.
 
Please suggest home remedies to get rid of stretch marks.

Massage the area with cocoa butter mixed with almond and coconut oil. This combination definitely helps lighten the marks, but over a long period of time and that too if regularly used.

There are white marks on my nails which refuse to go away. I have been told that this is because I constantly wear nail paint. Please advise how I can remove them.

You need to let your nails breathe. However, white marks on nails could also be due to calcium deficiency and it seems that you need to look inwards first and get some medical investigative tests done to determine any deficiency that you might be having. Please see your local GP.

I have ultra-sensitive nail beds that make all the poking and prodding of a pedicurist extremely painful. Is there any way I can address that?

Avoid nail cleaning from a  professional who is not adept at their work. Otherwise, usually this should not cause discomfort. Perhaps you can use a nail file and clean your own nails and enjoy the rest of the pampering a pedicure entails.

Is there anything I can eat or do to prevent early greying of hair?

If your problem is genetic, then I am afraid there is nothing I can do to help you as premature greying or even balding when it is hereditary cannot be reversed. Using natural colourant like mahabhringraj, brahmi, henna and indigo, and eating a healthy and well-balanced diet does help maintain a healthy crop of hair and using these herbs will help keep your hair darker naturally.

Suparna Trikha is a nature care expert and a columnist. Find her on Facebook @suparnatrikha. If you have questions, write to her at t2onsunday@abp.in with your age, skin type and other details