Castor oil: Oil right for skin problems

Dear Mary,
I read something on castor oil in your column. What are the health/beauty properties of castor oil and where is it available?
— Loren

Since ancient times, castor oil has been used as a home remedy for many disorders, like constipation, vaginal infection, bladder problems, arthritis and back pain. It was so widely used that the first sign of any illness was treated with an oral dose of castor oil. Castor oil is high in unsaturated fatty acid. It contains ricinoleic acid, which inhibits the growth of bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and molds. It’s the best topical application for skin problems like acne, kerotoses, skin inflammation, abrasions, ringworm, and fungal infections. Because of its healing properties, it is added to many topical medicines, ointments, and creams. If the infected area is small, you can simply use a Band-Aid with castor oil or soak a cloth in castor oil and wrap up the area with it.

All Mercury Drug outlets carry castor with or without flavor at P66.75 and P67.25, respectively.
— Mary

* * * This Will Make You Blush

Hi, Lucy!
I used to love using blushers because I’m quite pale and I think I have nice, chubby cheeks. I stopped using blushers when I started getting pimples in my cheek area; maybe I’m allergic to them. Then I used cheek tints. I adore them, they look so natural so now, I even use a lip tint instead of lipstick. By the way, both cheek and lip tints are by The Body Shop. But I started having pimples again in that area. What hypoallergenic blusher can you suggest?
— Cheeky

Although the cheek and lip tints by The Body Shop are very good products (I use them a lot, too), there is a chance that you are not hiyang to them. Before you use any other product, it is best to let your skin clear up first. Then you can try another product, like Maybelline Pure Blush, I Nuovi, or Awake. Blushes from L’Oreal, MAC, Lancome, and Shu Uemura (available at Rustan’s) are very good also. Happy blushing.
— Lucy

* * * When Beauty Is Just Skin-Deep

Dear Tingting,
I had pimples when I was in high school. Now, I have pimple scars and I’m desperate. I can’t afford to have a laser treatment. Is there an affordable alternative?
— Liv

Try dermabrasion; see Dr. Rhea Flores at the Belo Medical Group in Greenhills (tel. nos. 724-7443, 724-6626, 727-4208) or Dr. Herbosa at Makati Medical. They do dermabrasion by "refinishing" the skin’s top layer (through control surgical scraping) and smoothing out surface irregularities. Dermabrasion usually helps those who have been scarred by accidents; it also removes pre-cancerous growths called keratoses. Murad (available at Essenses, Rustan’s) has excellent skin products that erase wrinkles and pimple marks.
— Tingting

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