I am 23 and I have a sunspot on my face, near the nose and cheeks. I just want to know if laser treatment will help me get rid of this problem permanently. How much would it cost me?

Shahina

Sunspots or freckles result due to sun exposure in genetically predisposed individuals (those with a family history of freckles and sunspots). It can easily be cured using Q-switched Nd: YAG laser or electrofulguration in a single session. One must regularly use sunscreens to prevent recurrence. It’s not an expensive treatment.

I have multiple skin growth on my neck for the last five to six years. It looks ugly and they are gradually increasing. I think these are warts. How do I get rid of them?

Anu Sharma, Behala

You are probably suffering from skin tags (acrochordon), wherein the skin hangs out due to loss of elasticity. These are not warts and can be removed very easily by a dermatologist in his outpatient clinic. So consult one to get rid of them.

I am a 23-year-old girl. I have a lot of hair on my face and chest. How can I get rid of it?

Raneeta Singh

You are suffering from hirsutism. A thorough hormonal evaluation is necessary to identify the cause of such hair growth and the imbalance needs to be treated in consultation with an endocrinologist. The existing hair on chest and face can be permanently removed using laser hair removal treatment. It’s a very safe procedure.

I burnt my hand during Diwali and though the wound has healed, it has left an uneven pigmentation. Can you please suggest a remedy?

Shinjini, Jadavpur

The pigmentary changes that may result from an injury or a wound is called post-inflammatory pigmentation. It may either be darker (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) or lighter (post-inflammatory hypopigmentation) than the normal skin colour and is a common and distressing problem, constantly reminding you of the incident and at the same time looks ugly. For dark-coloured patches, you can use skin-bleaching creams containing Hydroquinone or Kojic acid in consultation with a doctor. For light-coloured scars, exposure to the sun, phototherapy and sometimes cosmetic surgery can help in resistant cases.

I was operated on the chest for bypass surgery six months back. The wound has completely healed but has left a very ugly scar, which continues to grow and is becoming painful. Please advise.

Ranjan Roy, Salt Lake

You are suffering from keloid. It is a condition where the body continues to make scar tissue for months or even years despite the wound having healed. The treatment for keloid is usually a corticosteroid injection administered directly into the lesion. It is injected every month for four to six months. Heparin-allantoin creams, steroid creams, silicone gel sheets and cryosurgery are other methods available to heal your scar.

I have a dark-coloured patch on the right side of my face that I suddenly developed when I was 14. I am 18 now and it has increased in size and looks ugly. How can I get it removed?

Simmi Agarwal

You are suffering from Nevus of Ota which is a birthmark that starts appearing in early teens. It increases in size for a few years and then remains constant for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, no cream helps. Q-switched Nd: YAG laser, however, can help remove your birthmark permanently. Consult a dermatologist who has laser facilities.

I am a 47-year-old housewife. I used to be a teacher and was much exposed to the sun, which has caused pigmentation all over my face. I also have many moles on my cheeks which need to be removed. Can you please advise?

Pratima

Tanning and darkening of the skin are common problems seen due to excessive exposure to the sun. One must regularly use broad-spectrum sunscreens (ideally twice a day) to prevent further darkening. Various skin-lightening creams containing hydroquinone, Kojic acid, liquorice and arbutin are available to lighten the tan. You can also try chemical peels.

Your mole can be easily removed by RadioFrequency Ablation, simple excision or laser that would not leave you with prominent scars.

Sachin Varma is a consultant dermatologist at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Calcutta. Mail him your queries at t2@abp.in