Part I: Is your skin behaving badly?

During a recent chat with skin expert Dr Parul Kolhe in February 9, a reader posed this question: 'I am a sikh and got my hair cut recently. My hairline is a little receding. What can I do to grow back the hair in the depleted area? My hair health is poor. It is thin and brittle. What should I do to improve the health of my hair?'

Here is Dr Parul's advice: 'A common problem among Sikhs is a receding hairline due to tightly pulling back the hair under the turban. This is called traction alopecia. To improve your hair health, have a lot of protein in your diet and some antioxidant supplement. You can use a gentle shampoo daily. It does not affect hair loss. For re-growing the hair, you will have to consult a dermatologist.'

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For those of you, who missed the chat, here's the transcript.

sakshi asked, i hve undereye dark circles plz tell me wat shuld i do
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Sakshi. Proper moisturising and regular use of sunscreen coupled with intake of antioxidant supplements usually decreases dark circles. If this fails, chemical peels can be done.

Robin asked, Hello Doctor, Is applying Hair Dye is safe ? I heard that the hair dye affects on eyesight, is that true? Please answer this question it is related to everybody in today's hectic life. Robin.
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Robin. Good quality hair dyes are free from ammonia and therefore quite safe and do not affect the eyes. It is possible however, to develop allergic reaction to even the best hair dye, therefore always perform a patch test on a small portion of skin before applying the dye all over the head.

ali asked, hello, madam, i am 16 yrs of age, i have pimpels on my face since 1 years, what i do, i dont take any medicine
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hi Ali, since your problem has just started, you can try controlling it by frequently washing your face with Cetaphil cleansing lotion. If this doesn't work, you will have to take medication as advised by dermatologist

AjayThakur22 asked, I want remove this warts as well as want cure such that new warts will never devlop. Please help
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Ajay. I think you should consult a dermatologist to first confirm whether you do have warts or not. Radiocautery treatment is available which removes warts permenantly, however there is no treatment which can gaurantee that they will not develop again, because warts are a result of viral infection and the virus can possibly re-infect or stay dormant in you body tissues.

me2 asked, I suffer from psoriasis...keeps gettingw orse on scalp & body. Can you suggest some simple remedies to keep it in control
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello, you must keep your skin well moistened. Keep applying oil or moisturiser throughout the day. Vitamin A supplements or EFA supplements, for example, Maxepa capsules are reputed to help.

payal asked, what should i do for dandruff. no shampoo is helping.
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Payal, you can try applying Tea tree oil, available from suppliers of essential oils. You can also ask your dermatologist for an intensive medicated dandruff control shampoo, combined with oral medication which gets rid of the most persistant dandruff as well.

Dhana asked, Is Urticaria a communicable skin disease? I am diagnosed for Urticaria and am currently 25/f. Can I continue to use the bathing soap used by others in my family or should I use a separate soap for myself.
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Dhana. Urticaria is an internal problem and not contagious at all. The reasons for your rashes may be multiple. There is genetic tendency to develop this desease but you cannot transfer it to anyone else, by touch, clothes, bathing soap, etc. It is advisable however, that you use a gentle soap for yourself such as, Dermadew, Dove or Pears.

violet asked, I'm 32 yrs now and I've noticed fine lines under my eyes, is it ok to get started with anti aging cream/lotion? When is the right age to start using all these?
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hi Violet. You can try commercially available anti-aging products but medical treatment will give you better and faster results. There is no right age as such to start anti-aging treatments, as it's a purely cosmetic problem and depends upon your level of satisfaction with your looks.

qwerty asked, Good Afternoon! i am a sikh and got my hair cut recently. i need guidance on a few things. 1. my hairline is a little receding. no family history of receding hairlines. what can i do to grow back the hair in the depleted area? 2. my hair health is quite poor. they are frail and thin and dont have much strength. what should i do to improve the health? any particular shampoos and conditioners that you would advice or advice against? 3. how often can one shampoo? is daily recommended or not? and again, what shampoos are best in terms of not being harsh on hair.
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Qwerty. A common problem in Sikhs is a receding hairline due to tightly pulling back the hair under the turban. This is called traction alopecia. To improve your hair health, take a lot of protein in your diet and some antioxidant supplement. You can use a gentle shampoo daily. It does not affect hair loss. For re-growing the hair, you will have to consult a dermatologist.

dineshNew asked, Could you please tell me what causes pre-mature graying of hairs and how to stop it.
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Dinesh. Greying of hair is genetically determined. You can try Calcium Pantothenate tablets but don't expect very drastic results.

chavi asked, hello sir, would like to know if there is any way of getting rid of stretch marks?
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Chavi, stretch marks are a permanent scarring of skin due to injury in the deeper layers after stretching of the skin. It can occur sudden weight loss, weight-gain or hormonal problems. They can be reduced with certain creams like Retinoic Acid and chemical peels.

jaffy_zz asked, hi Parul.Im 31,m with oily skin.How do i get rid of the scars and black spots on my face.Is plastic surgery advisable.How much would it cost?thanks in advance
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hi Jaffy. Your skin must be evaluated professionally by a dermatologist to judge the depth of scars. It's not necessary to go for plastic surgery. Dermabrasion or chemical peels costing 1000 to 2000 per sitting would help you. You'd need to repeat the treatment at two weekly intervals.

shubh asked, Hi doctor . How can we keep our skin smooth .My skin type is normal .In winters it is dry and in summers it is oily .
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Shubh. You should use a soap free cleanser or a Ph-balanced face wash to clean your skin. Steam your face once a week and follow it up with a scrub. You can also avail of skin smoothening and skin radiance treatment offered professionally by dermatologists.

nd asked, is it possible to clear chikpox scar on face?
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Depends upon the depth of the scars and whether they have been mishandled or scratched with finger nails. They can definitely be decreased with medical treatments and chemical peels.

vish asked, I have some white patches in my chest...it is not leukoderma...but just slightly lighter than usual colour...please suggest any simple treatment
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Light patches on the body could be anything -- fungal infections, late onset birthmarks, initial stages of leukoderma, reactions to chemicals, or even scars left by an old desease. It's impossible to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment without seeing the condition.

surili asked, hi doc, having so much open pores on face..is there any remedy?
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, You must keep your face oilfree and use a skin toner everytime you wash your face, Surili. Try tightening face masks containing tightening gels or collagen. Also avoid exposure to direct heat as from face steamers or kitchen stoves.

sundar asked, hello doctory, i am suffering from psoriasis, and tried both english medicine and homeopathy but not getting desired results. do we have medicine to cure this problem??
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Sundar, there are many newer treatments available for Psoriasis. I am not aware of what all you have tried already but, latest drugs like Methotrexate, creams like Tazarotene and Calcipotriol are available. Even laser treatments. But all of these have to be taken under supervision and continuous monitoring by a dermatologist, as they are toxic drugs with possible side-effects. Please do not attempt self medication.

sundar asked, hello doctory, i am suffering from psoriasis, and tried both english medicine and homeopathy but not getting desired results. do we have medicine to cure this problem??
Dr Parul Kolhe answers, Hello Sundar, there are many newer treatments available for Psoriasis. I am not aware of what all you have tried already but, latest drugs like Methotrexate, creams like Tazarotene and Calcipotriol are available. Even laser treatments. But all of these have to be taken under supervision and continuous monitoring by a dermatologist, as they are toxic drugs with possible side-effects. Please do not attempt self medication.

Dr Parul Kolhe says, Sorry, that's all we have time for today. Until the next chat, goodbye.

Part I: Is your skin behaving badly?

-- Dr Parul Kolhe is a practising dermatologist, with an M B B S, DDV and DNB in dermatology, and has worked as a cosmetologist with Nanavati hospital for five years. She can be contacted at (022) 25958412, 24506594.