Lighten Up With Lemon

The one-stop home solutions space

I am a huge fan and regular follower of your beauty tips. Please help me with my skin issues. I have really dry lips, but wish to have soft and pink lips. I have also heard that rubbing lemon on dark elbows and knees helps to lighten those areas. Does this work or do you have a more effective remedy? Please advise.

• Name withheld

Thanks for believing in my home remedies! Exfoliate your lips with a thin film of honey. Apply warm milk as another thin film over the honey. Scrub off with warm water followed by a cold rinse. Do this every day. For the elbows and knees, mix 1 teaspoon of rice powder and 1 teaspoon of oats powder with tomato juice to make a creamy paste. Add 2 drops of lemon juice to the mix and apply the mask thickly on the specified areas. Once dry, scrub off with warm water followed by a cold rinse. Do this every alternate day.

I follow most of your remedies as they are really effective. I used to have straight hair but it’s begun to get quite curly of late, which I find difficult to manage, especially after a shampoo. I wish to straighten it naturally. Can you please suggest a home remedy for the same?

• Sanjana

It’s a great feeling to know that my hard work of the past 32 years is being recognised by my readers. Thank you! To make the hair manageable after a shampoo, rinse hair thoroughly and squeeze off excess water. Apply 1 tablespoon of honey to your locks and run a wide-toothed comb through your hair. Rinse after 20 minutes. Towel dry and comb hair in a turban style (combing hair backwards from the top and sides). When dry, your hair will fall straight and full-bodied.

I had hard, dark patches on my feet for two years, and also dealt with ‘bacne’ (back acne) for over a year. These have gone now, but they’ve left behind black spots (scars) that refuse to go. Please help me get rid of these blemishes.

• Mahi

Apply lemon juice on the dark patches and acne scars daily. Rinse after an hour. This will help lighten the marks on your back and feet.

My sister is 25 years old and used to suffer from hair fall due to hormonal issues. Two years on, she’s off medication but her hair isn’t growing back. In fact, it’s getting thinner. There are no bald spots but the partings are wider — especially at the front. She also has an oily scalp and hair. Can you suggest a remedy? She recently saw a dermatologist who prescribed a spray to be applied everyday. Can she continue this along with your natural treatment?

• Name withheld

Soak a tablespoon of fenugreek seeds overnight. Mix it with aloe vera gel the next day to make a creamy paste, and apply this to the hair. Leave overnight and rinse the next day. This treatment can be done twice a week, even with the prescribed spray.

My granddaughter has lovely hair, but her scalp itches like nothing else. Her doctors have been unable to help. Kindly advise.

• Asha

Mix 1 tablespoon of fresh full cream yoghurt with 1 teaspoon of glycerine. Combine well and apply thoroughly on the scalp. Rinse after an hour. Do this three times a week for best results. 

(Got a beauty-related query? Write to Rima Soni at wknd@khaleejtimes.com)

• Beauty Basics