For chicken pock-like marks on the face and chest area...

I'm 37 and use either Decleor or Elemis products. Recently during the sunny weather, I've developed chicken pock-like spots on my face and chest area as well as on my arms, but they seem to be "inverted". Don't know what they are or what to use. Can you help?

Alison: I would like you to check these with the doctor because if you were on holiday, there are some skin infections that can be picked up from the sand, lilos, public baths, towels etc. It shouldn't be anything to worry about but if it is this, then you doctor should be able to sort it out for you very quickly.

In the meantime in your beauty routine, you should keep using the skincare products that you've been happy with. However, I’d add ABC Skinwash and use this daily in the shower on your face and body.

For itchy red lumps on the decolletage...

I have fair skin and I like to use fake tan. I use it on my arms, however if I use it on my decolletage area the next morning I have itchy red lumps. I've tried many brands over the years and have the same problem. Can you help please?

Alison: The decollete can be as sensitive as the face area and the body, i.e. your arms have a much tougher skin. If there's a self tan that you have used successfully on your face before, then you could try this on your decollete. Otherwise, I'd recommend the Monne Self Tan Serum as this is designed for the face as well as the decollete.

Alternatively, if your skin is very sensitive in this decollete area, you may be allergic to DHA which is a self-tanning agent that is used in most self tanning products. Your trick might be to use self tan on the body and the arms, and then to use tinted make-up on the face and decollete to even up the colour. For your body you could try Jiffy Tan from Benefit. This is a non-self tan body tint stain that doesn't come off on clothes, although it will wash off in the shower. It's like instant self tan and it doesn't contain DHA.

A final thing to test would be using a self-tanning daily application moisturiser as this should use a much lower percentage of the DHA ingredient.

For prickly heat...

Can you offer any advice on how to stop or treat prickly heat? I always get it on my arms and it gets incredibly painful. I'm off to Cyprus and would love to get something sorted out for it now before I go.

Alison: Firstly, your doctor should be able to give you some advice for prickly heat and any anti-histamines that you can take to help.

However, you can also help by preparing the skin. A Tan Accelerator would be a great help before you go away, as whether you want a tan or not, it prepares the skin to be tougher against the sun.

Step two would be to use a gel-based SPF factor such as all-day Ultrasun SPF20. If you want to use a re-application sun cream then make sure its gel based and that you re-apply every 20 - 40 minutes.

Try to keep your skin from sweating too much as well - you could take the ABC Skinwash with you on holiday and shower with it after sunbathing. This will help to keep the skin cool and clean. General tips are keeping cool at night and not overheating (check that your room has air conditioning in advance) and SBC Aloe Vera Gel would be my absolute must for you to take with you - just apply it any time you get an itch for instant soothing relief.

My husband also suffers from prickly heat and finds this routine really helps.

For cellulite on the thighs and bottom...

Please can you help turn me back into a yummy mummy. Following my pregnancy, I've noticed an increase in cellulite on my thighs and bottom. Can you recommend a product that will reduce the appearance and something to firm up the skin?

Alison: You haven't said whether you've changed weight at all, which I presume has happened. After pregnancy, your whole routine, particularly any exercise habits, can change and exercise is as important as it was before pregnancy. This probably seems like a time-consuming prospect but there are a few things you can try out.

We have a range of home exercise systems you could try or you could follow simple routines such as step up on the bottom of your stairs. There's also a great machine that's going to be our Today's Special Value on Tuesday 11th August. It was designed by a husband and wife for her to use while looking after the children and it works your thighs, hips and bottom. She keeps it in the kitchen and uses it when she's making breakfast or boiling the kettle.

A quick and easy thing to try as well is the SBC Collagen Gel. The litre or half litre size is particularly great value. This product will have a tightening and firming effect on that area and is great used as a mask as it sinks in wonderfully. You can use it everywhere, even around your eyes or on a lined forehead.

For helping to prevent and soothe prickly heat...

Can you offer any advice on how to stop or treat prickly heat? I always get it on my arms and it gets incredibly painful. I'm off to Cyprus in August and would love to get something sorted out for it now before I go.

Alison: Firstly, your doctor should be able to give you some advice for prickly heat and can offer you anti-histamines that you can take to help. However, you can also help by preparing the skin. A tan accelerator would be a great help before you go away, as whether you want a tan or not, it prepares the skin to be tougher against the sun.

Step two would be to use a gel-based SPF factor such as all-day Ultrasun SPF20. If you want to use a re-application sun cream then make sure it's gel based and that you re-apply it every 20 - 40 minutes.

For large open pores...

I need help with large open pores between my breasts and down the centre of my back. Is there any way to reduce the appearance of very large open pores in this area? When the skin is pushed together, it looks crepey which I don't think should be happening as I'm in my early 30s. I had an allergic reaction to the Alpha H range so would prefer to stay clear.

Alison: You should definitely try using the ABC Skinwash in case the pores are caused by a skin infection - this is an anti-septic wash that can help to neutralise any bacteria in this area.

You can also get open pores in these areas if you naturally perspire more than others. So, I'd suggest making sure that you aren't using too strong an anti-perspirant underneath your arms. What can happen is that if the perspiration cannot get out under your arms, it may find somewhere else to come out - so spotty chests and backs are often a symptom of this.

Even though you have open pores, remember that a body moisturiser is still essential. The one I'd recommend that would help to reduce the look of these pores is SBC Collagen Gel. Apply this two-three times a day or just a thick mask-type layer once a day (that you can leave to sink in when you're brushing your teeth or getting ready etc) to help plump up the skin in this area. Plumping up this area will help to close the pores up as they tend to widen when the skin is dehydrated or infected.

On reducing the look of a scar from thyroid surgery...

I'm due to undergo surgery on the base of my neck on my thyroid. Apart from fears of surgery, I'm sad to know I will have a visible scar. I already have my Bio Oil and Gel Prolagene ready and have upped my regime to get my skin into tip top condition. Do you have any tips on aftercare to minimise the effects of the scar? I'm seriously considering backing out of the op so as not to have the scar.

Alison: You must definitely go ahead with the surgery - it's a medical necessity and very important!

The good news though is that the scar created from this type of surgery is very common and can often heal up so you can't even see it. Nowadays, surgeons are very considerate to the effects of an open scar and they will try to put it into a natural crease line. The scar is cut horizontally so you won't notice it as much as you get older and more lines and creases start to develop here. It will also just be a single line which doesn't have any cross stitching as it's internally stitched and is about a quarter of the size of a single stretch mark.

On a beauty product to help deter mosquitoes...

Can you recommend a beauty product that will help deter mosquitoes from biting me and my children, as when we go on holiday we tend to get attacked by them.

Alison: First of all, make sure to follow your doctor's advice, who will probably recommend to you products that contain Deet. On top of one of these products or in my case, as I'm actually allergic to Deet (a little unfortunate!), I suggest applying tea tree oil.

ABC have a great range of products containing tea tree oil. Firstly, there's pure tea tree oil. Simply add a few drops to your skin - particularly your hairline, ankles and scalp (that's where I seem to always get bitten) - or mix it in with your suncream (this shouldn't cause pigmentation problems).

Or ABC also offer tea tree oil in a body lotion and wash formula which may be easier for the kids - just wash them in it every day.

Have a mosquito bite-free holiday!

For acne on the neck and back...

I am a 19-year-old male and have acne over my neck and back. I'm on my second course of tablets from the GP and they are helping but I want to find something else. Sometimes the acne is huge red lumps and sometimes it's white blackheads.

The lumps on my neck are particularly painful and this tends to get me down. Can you please recommend something to ease the swelling and inflammation?

Alison: Firstly you could go back to your doctor because they may be able to prescribe you alternative tablets. Plus, if you explain to your doctor that the lumps are very painful, then they might be able to help you out further.

Secondly, bear in mind that your diet could be having an effect on your skin condition - it doesn't always. So, you could try for a month to leave out very oily food, such as crisps and chocolate, and very acidic food, such as too much fresh fruit - pineapple is particularly acidic.

Thirdly, I can recommend you a skincare routine that, in conjunction with your doctor's advice, could help improve your condition. You've mentioned that acne is appearing on your neck as well as your back. This could also be associated with ingrown hairs caused by shaving.

I recommend Alpha-H Liquid Gold - wiped over the neck and back, three nights a week. Then use the Alpha-H Triple Action Cleanser with the Balancing Moisturiser, which also acts as an exfoliant. You could also use the Micro Cleanse in the shower twice times a week to lift up any ingrown hairs.

For teenage skin suffering from acne...

I get all my skincare advice from watching your shows and vary between Decleor, Elemis and Gatineau. My daughter will be 13 this month and she has acne all over her face, in a V down her front and down her back to her waist line. I bought her Cleanse and Polish and now she has really clean acne!

I took her to the Doctors and he prescribed a gel that she has to put on every night which is helping to clear up her spots but now she is getting dry flaky skin on her face. Could you let me know what would be the best thing to do for her as she is at that age!

Alison: She can stick with her Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, which will be cleaning her skin without drying it out and so it's excellent that she gets on well with that.

As a face and body wash in the shower I'd like her to use the Australian Body Care Skinwash because of its anti-septic qualities. When it foams up, it will go down her back and keep that clean as well.