I am a 17-year-old girl. I have a combination of oily and sensitive skin. I get a lot of acne on my face and also have a lot of scars. I want a solution to get rid of the acne scars from my face. They seem to be getting worse day by day. I feel my skin is becoming rough because of the acne. Can I get a remedy for this so that my skin becomes totally clear?

Rituparna Singh

Check your lifestyle first, starting with having at least 12 glasses of water daily. Lots of fresh fruits and salads and green vegetables. Avoid fried food, heavy gravies, aerated sweet drinks and sweets. Treat constipation and increase vitamin C in your diet. And keep your skin clean at all times. For this, use a citrus-based facewash.

For the acne, make the following mask:

1 teaspoon (tsp) Multani mitti, to which you have added 1tsp fresh neem paste and a pinch of camphor, and rose water. This should be done on alternate days until the acne subsides.

For the dryness:

Use honey as a moisturiser on your face, which has to be washed off after five minutes. So, wet your skin, take 1tsp honey and massage the skin and wash off. This can be done daily.

I am 25 years old and I have some old pimple marks which are very stubborn. Someone suggested I use Bio-Oil. I want to ask, is it safe and free from side effects?

Sweta Shukla

My dear Sweta, I have no idea what this product is nor what the ingredients are. If you have been suggested this by a reliable professional, I am sure it would not be wrong.

A year ago, my skin was infected with herpes virus and the skin under my eyes was affected the most. Even though I was cured after consulting a doctor, it has left dark marks under my eyes. Now it looks as if I have dark circles under my eyes; it makes me look old. I have sensitive skin. May I have a solution to this problem?

Paramita Sadhu, 20

Start using ice-cold milk compressions on your eyes daily. Soak cotton wool pads cut into squares big enough to cover the eye area and dip into iced milk. Place over eyes and relax. This should be done daily for 15 minutes.
Also, take 1tsp grated raw potato, 1tsp grated raw cucumber and mix with 1tsp sandalwood powder. Apply this to the eye area for 20 minutes and wash off. This can be done on alternate days. 

I am a 20-year-old girl. I have a wheatish complexion and my skin is very acne-prone. When they clear out, they leave behind dark spots on my skin. And I have also developed hyperpigmentation on my upper lip. Can you please suggest some remedies to treat my dark spots and hyperpigmentation?

Loveleen De

Check your internal health and see whether you require any vitamins. Make the following exfoliator for the marks and pigmentation: 2tsp masoor lentil powder, 2tsp sandalwood powder, 2tsp china clay, 2tsp lemon peel powder. Mix all the ingredients well. Take 1tsp of it and add enough milk to make a smooth paste and apply all over a cleaned face. When semi-dry, dab with rose water and scrub in a rotating manner and wash off. This should be done on alternate days. Also check to see why you are getting pimples. Is it your lifestyle? If so, you really need to take extra caution and eat 
healthy.

I’m a 20-year-old girl. My hair is extremely voluminous, curly, dry and very tangled. Applying conditioner leaves my hair crunchy. Please suggest ways so that my hair remains tangle-free and manageable.

Salma Khatoon

I do hope you oil your hair regularly. Use the following hair mask to soften it: 3 tablespoons (tbs) mayonnaise, to which you have added one banana, blended well in a mixer. Add 2tbs olive oil and apply as a mask on the hair, from the roots to the ends. Leave in for half-an-hour and wash off with a mild herbal shampoo. 

I have very dark lips. I have tried everything, from beetroot juice to almond oil to lime juice, but to no avail. I do not smoke. Please help.

Rajib Mitra, 35 

This may be hereditary and you should use a lip mask. First, mix 1 drop each of almond oil and coconut oil and apply to the lips. Leave on for five minutes. Then take the paste of two almonds mixed with milk and apply on the lip area for 10 minutes. When dry, pat with milk and scrub off gently.