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Papaya cleanses the skin

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First of all, thanks for your useful home remedies. They are very effective. I have been suffering from melasma for the last 7-8 months. A dermatologist in India advised a triple therapy cream but I don’t see much improvement. The melasma has covered almost my entire face and looks very odd. I am very worried. Kindly suggest a way to improve my condition. - Name withheld

Melasma can be due to several reasons: hormonal imbalance, stress, severe sun exposure etc. My personal advice would be to protect your skin from harsh sun exposure and always wear sun protection before stepping out. Follow a healthy diet containing fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Drink 9-10 glasses of water daily. A regular bowl of fresh papaya will do you good. You may also take a piece and rub over the pigmented area. Rinse with cold water after an hour. Do this twice a day. Also, every night, add 3 drops of vitamin E oil to 2 drops of rose water. Apply on the pigmented area and leave overnight for best results.

I have a teenage daughter with hair all over her face and body. Is there a way to get rid of them without waxing or using hair removal creams? - Name withheld

Add 1 tablespoon of egg white to 1 teaspoon of rice powder and enough corn flour, making the mask smooth. Apply a thick layer on the area to be cleared. Once the mask is semi-dry, scrub against the hair growth. Do not be harsh. Do this thrice a week.

I am 15 years old and suffering from severe dandruff and rough hair. My itchy scalp makes me scratch so much that it starts bleeding. This happens only during specific months of the year. Please suggest an easy remedy. - Tania

Massage coconut milk into the scalp thrice a week. Leave on for an hour before rinsing or leave on overnight. Always use a mild shampoo. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Control your stress levels, if you suffer from stress.

I have used some of your remedies and they have really helped. My 1 ½-year-old baby girl has light skin, which makes the thick hair on her upper lip very visible. Please suggest a remedy to lighten or remove the hair. - Grace

I am glad to hear my treatments have been helpful. Your child is very little, so just try a very gentle treatment by taking 1 tablespoon of coconut milk, adding enough almond powder and massaging her body and face against the hair growth. This will gently lift the facial hair, as well as that on her body and face. Do this everyday before bathing her. Her skin will be nourished, and become silky and smooth.

I’m 16 years old. My family moved out of the UAE a few months ago, but I’m still a huge fan of your column. Ever since we shifted, my mom and I have been experiencing a lot of 
hair fall. I leave my hair open to school everyday and the strong winds here make it prone to damage. Please suggest a home remedy. - Ira

I am truly delighted to hear of your loyalty to my column. Sometimes, a change of country and climate can be the reason for hair fall. Check if your scalp suffers from dandruff, because that can be a cause too. Take 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, add 6 drops of tea tree oil (only if you have dandruff), 6 drops of rosemary oil (to activate circulation) and 1 teaspoon of castor oil (to thicken hair growth). This combination of oils will help hair grow well. Do this thrice a week for mana-geable hair.