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"Skin glow is always associated with a good and healthy lifestyle."
"Avoid sunlight between 10 am and 4 pm. Use a thick coat of sunscreen even at home, every 3-4 hours."
Medical cosmetologist Jamuna Pai had these words of advice for readers.
In an online chat with readers, India's leading medical cosmetologist Jamuna Pai offered advice on how to fight skin problems and get a glowing skin.
For those who missed the chat on May 19, here's the unedited transcript:
Rameshwari: Can you suggest a good face moisturiser which can be used by women of all ages and all skin types?
Jamuna Pai: Hello Rameshwari, Use a combination of glycerine, honey and yogurt/milk cream, depending on whether it is an oily or dry skin respectively.
necessary documents: My age is 37 female. I have little dark spots (scattered) on my face most probably due to sunburn or may be its a post natal period(two and half yrs) things. so i use daily sunscreen but still it is not fading.
Jamuna Pai: hello, this could be due to the pregnancy hormones which has not faded with time.
Lead a healthy life, use thick coats of sunscreen every 3-4 hours, nutritional supplements of vit C and L-glutathione and a cream containing Azelaic acid 10 per cent and Vit C to be applied on the patch at bedtime.
sushma bhandari: hello mam , is there any cream for glowing skin.
Jamuna Pai: Hello Sushma, besides your genes, skin glow is always associated with a good and healthy lifestyle. example good nutrition, regular exercise, enough hydration and sleep and nutritional supplements if required.
Saurabh Khandekar: Please suggest me cream which helps me to remove my pimples - acne, and I can apply it daily while going to sleep..
Jamuna Pai: Hello Saurabh, Use a cream containing 10 per cent azelaic acid on the acne at bedtime.
Don't use too much as it can cause skin peeling and redness. Use it for a month and give a two week break and continue.
SUNIL MORE: my age is 39 for last 6 years on my left leg there are small pimple size lumps are there above ankle skin in that area is thick and scaly dermatologist have told me its eczema psoriasis but no effect.
Currently one dermatologist is giving injection at that area only temporarily I stop to scratch my skin but again after two months same problem starts.
Jamuna Pai: Hello Sunil, continue to see the dermatologist as for eczema/psoriasis there is unfortunately no permanent cure.
You have to treat the symptoms every time there is a flare up.
Sunjeev Gupta: Hello my wife, aged 50, is having severe pigmentation on face and neck,which has started last 4 year back. Can you suggest some thing?
Jamuna Pai: Hi Mr Gupta, this is mainly due to hormonal changes that her body is undergoing at her age.
Avoid sunlight between 10 am and 4 pm.
Use a thick coat of sunscreen even at home, every 3-4 hours.
For the pigmentation take Vit C, L-glutathione, fish oil capsules orally.
Apply a mix of 10 per cent azelaic acid with a pinhead size of tretin cream 0.04 per cent on the patch at bedtime.
Vicky: hello mam I purchased your book few days back. I am 35 yr businessman and have abnormal skin growth below my waist in interior area. please suggest remedy
Jamuna Pai: Hi Vicky, please visit a dermatologist immediately as it is not safe to leave any growths on the body unattended.
meenakshi sharma: Mam, 2 per cent kojic acid cream can be applied for pigmentation and enhance the skin texture for all skin types.
Kindly recommend /suggest the reliable brand to buy the cream. Please.
Jamuna Pai: Kojivit or Kojic Cream. Use in small quantities. Just a dot sized amount as excess can make the skin dry and cause peeling.
suraj: My age is 34.. I'm having infection on my inner thighs since past 10 years now.
My thighs tend to rub and due to this friction I guess the infection has arisen.
My legs are very hairy and so are my buttocks. I want a permanent solution to it.
I love to play and walk but due to this problem. I hate doing anything and I'm usually irritated because of this problem.
Jamuna Pai: Hi Suraj,how much do you weigh?
Have your serum insulin levels, HBSAg and blood sugar checked.
Go and see an endocrinologist or a dermat with your reports. They may help with weight loss which will reduce the friction and infection. For excess hair, laser hair reduction is a good option.
sudha pandit: Hello Mam! I have purchased your book No one has to know and read. I am 45 yrs IT professional having under eye dark circles.
I am regularly taking spinach juice as you suggested.
Please guide which creams should I use having kojic acid with vitamin C and Azeliac acid. please guide
Jamuna Pai: Hi Sudha, hope you found the book informative. You can try kojivit cream or clearz plus.
meenakshi sharma: Hello Mam, I am 32 yrs old. Is there any treatment/creme to close the open pores and to target pigmentation and uneven skin tone which peel is best? Thanks
Jamuna Pai: Hi Meenakshi, for the pigmentation salicylic acid peel done by a professional is your best bet.
For open pores, oral supplements of zinc, Vit A and antioxidants are necessary.
Face pack containing lime juice, multani mitti and rose water applied once a week.
Swetha IISc: Hi my name is shweta. What should I do to rescue my skin from pollution, as I am travelling 60 kms every day and how to enhance skin glow as I am becoming dull every day.
Jamuna Pai: Hello Shweta, since you have to travel long distance daily, please cover your exposed body areas with cotton clothes, use a sunscreen, wear floppy hat.
Proper diet, regular exercise, adequate hydration and sleep will give you the glow regardless of you skin colour.
Manoj Ashok Santani: Hi Mam I am PH person I'm on wheelchair can you tell me which diet should I follow so not to gain my weight. Plz also tell me whether your clinic is disable friendly
Jamuna Pai: Hello Manoj, our clinics are disable friendly. for your diet concerns it is advisable to visit the best nutritionist in your area who will be able to guide you on what to eat and how much to eat. All the best.
Suraj Malpani: Hello, my name is suraj and I am 26 year old.
Last year in march I had a plastic surgery on my upper lip to reduce the after effects of accident wounds.
Now their is a scar visible on my upper lip. Can you suggest any cream or a treatment to reduce the scaring.Should I go for laser treatment?
Jamuna Pai: Hello Suraj, there are laser resurfacing treatments. A dermatologist can also do a subscission to reduce the scar.
Even with hyaluronic acid gel fillers we can remodel the scar. meanwhile use silicon gel creams on the scar.
rohan mehra: [SKB] How to remove scars from skin?
Jamuna Pai: Hello Rohan, if the scars that you have are deep pitted acne scars then a skin resurfacing treatment will help you revise these scars.
If they are flat scars, regular chemical peels done at a clinic of good repute are ideal. And mild scars can be addressed with microdermabrasion.
kamalika datta: Hi Dr Pai, I have extremely sensitive skin. I have uneven skin tone with black patches please suggest any medication that will give glowing and blemish freee skin
Jamuna Pai: Hi Kamalika,Every 3 days take the pulp of any citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, sweet lime, strawberries etc), add milk powder and coarse besan to make a paste.
Apply on the face wait for 20 mins, wet the face and wash off in circular motions. Seal in a moisturiser on a wet face.
Pramod Mahadik: Hi mam, I am 24-year working professional. I have to sit almost 9 hours a day before a computer.
I used to have spectacles and I wore them for almost 12 years and i had LASIK surgery done.
My problem is I have dark circles because of that so plz suggest good creams or home remedy to reduce dark spots.
Jamuna Pai: Hi Pramod, shift your focus from the computer from time to time and squeeze your eyes shut to improve circulation in the area.
Use a sunscreen in the morn and 2 per cent kojic acid and Vit C cream at bedtime. Take Vit C, iron and antioxidants orally.
Kajori Chakraborty: Hello Dr. I am suffering from stretch marks for a very long time. They are present on my arms,belly and back as well. I'm not very fat yet i have them. Please recommend.
Jamuna Pai: Hi Kajori, unfortunately, stretch marks form due to the permanent snapping of elastin and collagen fibers in the skin.
They can never be joined back together. But you can lighten the surrounding skin with mild bleaching agents that contain retinol, 2 per cent hydroquinone and kojic acid.
Apply on alternate nights to make the stretch marks look less obvious.
ajay kumar: Hi Pai, my age is 32. I just want to know how to remove tan which is existing from last one year near my forehead. Can you please suggest me any ways to get rid of it.
Jamuna Pai: Hi Ajay,What you've described sounds like pigmentation more than a tan.
Take Vitamin C orally, anti oxidants, use sunscreen, L-glutathione tabs over a period of 6 months.
Exfoliate the skin regularly and consider trying a chemical peel to lighten the marks. Pls visit a doctor for the peels and also before starting the medication.
sangeeta patil: pls share diet for beautiful skin.
Jamuna Pai: Hi Sangeeta,I would love to answer your question in great detail but can't due to time and space constraints.
However, I would recommend that you buy a copy of my book- it contains the answer to your question and much much more in great detail. :) It's called No One Has To Know.
Debjita Biswas: My age is 32 and working with MNC . however my skin is dry, pale, matured and glowless.
My skin is wheatish brown and full of rashes. Also I get tanned easily.. how to get even skin tone and glow.
Jamuna Pai: Keloid tendency is the tendency of your skin to heal with a hypertrophic scar whenever there is a tiny opening or cut in the skin.
Cutting the keloid will only create another keloid. Your doctor will give you intra-lesional injections to flatten it and creams to help it further.
Avoid mosquito bites, cuts and wounds and inform doctor of your tendency in case you're having surgery.
jeetu-jadhav: is there non surgical treatment for double chin, nasolabial folds?
Jamuna Pai: Hi Jeetu, for the double chin area, short threads and dissolving the fat with mesotherapy and using skin tightening would be the best treatments.
All these are non surgical and min invasive with almost no downtime. For the nasolabial folds hyaluronic acid gel fillers at 6 month intervals will help a great deal.
Carol Fernandes: Hello Dr My daughter age 11 years weighing 46 kgs. Doctor since she is fat her underarms are getting darker and even on her thighs (inner) and since two days I notice that her uper lips and lower are also getting darker. Please suggest or recommend.
Jamuna Pai: Hi Carol,This is very much due to the friction caused by the skin rubbing against each other in the body folds.
These symptoms also indicate a hormonal imbalance which is very common at this age. Give her vit C supplements, encourage good hygiene, exercise and diet to keep the weight under control which will help lighten the darkness.
leena: Hii mam, my age is 42. I work for an office as receptionist so I have to look beautiful but my face skin has got black scars i dont know how. Can u pls suggest what should I do to get rid of it.
Jamuna Pai: Pigmentation is usually due to hormonal changes esp in women.
High melanin content in the skin combined with the tropical climate we live in causes the pigmentation. So the aim is to contain it and lighten it.
Take Vit C, folic acid, antioxidants, use sunscreen and a comb of azelaic acid, vit C and kojic acid cream at night.
Jamuna Pai: Use the combination cream at bedtime and sunscreen during the day. reapply at least twice a day.
P V: I have dark circle and wrinkle type under eye skin. Also little undereye bag.
If I do filler, it give bulge effect.
Any solution other than Blepharoplasty.
I am told there are just hydrating filler that can give hydrating effect. pls suggest
Jamuna Pai: Hi PV, blepharoplasty is your best answer.
If we do fillers alongside the bulge, the bulge will appear bigger.
Reduce salt intake, sleep at a slightly elevated gradient so that water doesn't accumulate around the eyes.
For dark circles use kojic acid creams with Vitamin C and azelaic acid creams to reduce circles and wrinkles.
Bhanu Prakash: I'm a 32 year old male and I want to get rid of wrinkles around my eyes and also want to get rid of my laugh lines is there any best solution available?
Jamuna Pai: Dear Mr Prakash, I have a simple answer for you.
Besides facial exercises that may help tone your facial muscles and scrubs and lasers to tighten the skin will help by about 10-20 per cent, your simple answer is to get Botox for the crow's feet and hyaluronic acid gel fillers for the laugh lines.
Both are safe, with no downtime but need to be repeated every six months.
ijaz: Black moles on the nose. What's the remedy?
Jamuna Pai: Dear Ijaz,If they are really moles and not blackheads then they have to be surgically removed.
The tiny scar will fade with time. But if they are blackheads, clean your face with a salicyclic acid face wash, have supplements of Vitamin A and zinc.
Use a mild granulated scrub and multani mitti pack alternately twice a week.