Natural remedies that lighten skin

Dear Betsy, I burned my right hand a few months ago while grilling something. Now I have a quite prominent dark mark on my hand which looks terrible when I dress up for parties! Could you help me on that? I know the mark will not disappear, but how can I make it lighter?

Thanks & regards

Nahid

Dear Nahid,

If it was a few months ago then it is more difficult to treat I am afraid.

Natural remedies include using an exfoliant to remove the buildup of dead skin cells and stimulate the renewal rate and using a natural 'bleaching' agent to lighten the skin.

Always wear a sun block on your hands when you are outside, even when you are in the car. It will help prevent the mark worsening and will also help you maintain any results you may achieve with the lightening treatments.

My special tip for mild burns like this is to always keep some lavender essential oil in the kitchen. If you are unfortunate enough to burn yourself, then plunge your hand into cold water and keep it there for some minutes, or alternatively, hold it under cold running water.

Dry the skin and apply some neat lavender essential oil to the burned area. This will immediately remove that burning stinging feeling and prevent your skin blistering and ultimately pigmenting.

Obviously, if the burn is severe then you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

For a natural skin exfoliant for the hands and arms, I recommend using either some sea salt or some granulated sugar. Mix it with some olive oil and pure lemon juice. Use this paste on dry skin and rub vigorously for three to five minutes, paying particular attention to the pigmented area. This is also great to use around your nails and cuticles. Rinse well and pat your hands dry. They will immediately feel softer and smoother and you will notice the brightening of the skin. You can make this recipe up and keep it in a screw-top jar near your kitchen sink and use it once or twice a day. The olive oil will ensure you don't overdo the exfoliation or dehydrate your skin.

For a natural beaching action, I would recommend pure lemon juice mixed with some turmeric and yoghurt. Make a paste and apply it to the area after using the exfoliating scrub. Leave on the skin for 20 to 30 minutes and rinse well. You can use this daily for a week as an intensive treatment and then two or three times a week to maintain the results.

If you have a party then you can try using conceal and/or some foundation cream to camouflage the mark. Make sure you seal the creams with a dusting of translucent powder to help 'set' the make up and ensure it stays matte throughout the evening. Obviously you will need to be careful when washing your hands to ensure you don't remove the creams.

A fashionable alternative for a party would be to wear evening gloves. They are bang in style this season and if you don't like the thought of plain black elbow length evening gloves, then try some pretty lace ones for a less formal look.

Dear Betsy,

I have just found out that I love hummous. I know it is made from chickpeas and I tried buying it in a tin but it was awful. Do you have a recipe for hummous?

Barbra

Dear Barbra,

This can be a very healthy snack when served with some fresh crudities such as raw carrots, cucumber, celery, tomatoes, red and yellow peppers instead of just some Arabic bread which is the usual accompaniment.

Hummous is easy to make and this is my own version of it. I don't like yoghurt so don't add it but lots of people do so you could experiment with the basics until you find what you like best.

Two tins of chickpeas, drained

Juice of one lemon

One crushed garlic clove (two if you are garlic brave)

Tahina

Extra virgin olive oil

Put the chickpeas and a tablespoon of olive oil in the blender and make into a paste. Add the crushed garlic, lemon juice and tahina, around three to four tablespoons, and blend to a smoother paste. You can also add yoghurt at this point and you can adjust the amount of tahina to suit your taste and the desired consistency. If you like it spicy, then add some Tabasco sauce and process again.

BETSY SAYS RELAX

Winter is here and if my intuition is right, it is going to be a cold one this year. It is time to get your flu jab from the doc and dust off your woolies and service those heaters that have been lurking in your cupboard. Make sure you are getting enough vitamin C to help your immune system and each evening have a cup of my special winter infusion. Boil up four slices of fresh ginger for 10 minutes. Strain and add the juice of half a fresh lemon and a good dollop of organic manuka honey, sit down, put your feet up and sip slowly.

IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING THIS WEEK

Clean your computer keyboard keys. Apparently they can harbour really serious bacteria and if you share a computer or use a public one then you could be helping yourself to a lively dose of lovely germs. Turn your keyboard upside down and tap gently to remove crumbs and other debris then wipe the keys with some alcohol-based product to clean and kill the bacteria. You can find keyboard wipes in many computer shops and supermarkets.