Cussons Care - May 7

I have very dry lips. How can I solve this problem?
Sally
Dr David Russell: You should use a moisturiser several times a day, especially now that the temperatures are increasing. Always keep a lip balm or lip care stick in your handbag. Lip care sticks can actually protect lips from the damage caused by the sun, in addition to smoothing and softening your lips. Many lipsticks also contain moisturising ingredients, so you should ask about this when purchasing them.

I have developed warts on my hands. How can I get rid of them?
Joanna
If you go to the pharmacy, you can get a wart-removing cream that you must apply daily for some weeks. However, this can sometimes take a long time. You can go to a skin specialist and get them removed through freezing. Cryosurgery is a process that removes the wart without hurting the skin around it.

You may need to have several freezing treatments before the wart is completely removed.
Cryosurgery can be uncomfortable, but it isn't usually too painful. The freezing is somewhat numbing. When your doctor places the instrument on your skin to freeze the wart, it will feel like an ice cube is stuck to your skin. Afterward, you may feel a burning sensation as your skin thaws out.

Healing after cryosurgery is usually quick. You will probably be able to enjoy all your usual activities while you heal, including swimming and bathing. Cryosurgery leaves little or no scar. After the area has healed, the treated skin may be a bit lighter in colour than the skin around it.

My husband and I disagree on whether to use showergel or soap. I love the smell of the showergel and also the way my skin feels moist after use. However, my husband says showergel doesn't get him clean and insists on using soap. Could this possibly be true or is he just being old-fashioned?
Sheema
It is quite possible that your husband doesn't like the moisturised feeling left by showergel. Many men prefer to use soap because of the 'squeeky clean' factor, while women prefer the moisturising elements of shower gel. Don't fight about it. Buy him a pack of soap and hog all the showergel for yourself.

Can you give me a few tips on looking after my skin now that the weather is getting hot?
Amber
As everyone knows, water is very important for the well-being of the skin. Try to drink at least six glasses of water a day to help your skin keep its moisture content. Have a good skincare routine, that includes cleansing, moisturising and toning your skin on a daily basis.

In addition to skin creams, use a good showergel or soap, like those from Imperial Leather. Also, don't forget to get lots of sleep, which always keeps your skin looking its best. When going out in the sun, always use a factored suncream. If you have fair skin, you will need a high factor cream.

I shower and bathe very regularly and I always moisturise my skin afterwards but I find that my skin, especially on my knees and elbows, has been getting very dry. Why is this?
Carol
Being in water that's too hot or staying in the bath or shower for too long won't hydrate your skin, and may even have the opposite effect. It can cause skin to lose vital indgredients that help to hold moisture in the skin. Don't spend too long in the water; you don't want to get that 'prune effect'. Also, don't be too rough when you are drying yourself afterwards.

I have a very serious problem. My scalp is always oily. I wash my hair twice a day. After half an hour, my hair again becomes oily. After getting up from sleep, my scalp is so full of oil. By the way, I am not eating any oily or fried food. Due to this problem, I am losing my hair. Please advise me what lotion or medicine I should use to stop this secretion of oil. Also, please tell me where I can purchase this locally.
Roshan
Seborrhoea is a term given to the condition referred to as an oily or greasy scalp and hair. The sebaceous glands which feed into the hair follicles become over active and the secretion of natural oil to the scalp causes this problem. Seborrhoea begins at puberty when the sebaceous glands enlarge due to the increased circulating hormones within the body.

As your condition seems so severe it would seem that you could possibly have an hormonal inbalance. You should ask your doctor to check your hormone levels and this will be done by a simple blood test. In the meantime you should try using a very mild shampoo daily but make sure that this is rinsed thoroughly as detergents left on the hair could be contributing to your problem.