Q: My legs are covered in dark, ugly marks caused by mosquitoes bites. What can I do to make them disappear?

A: This is quite a common problem in Singapore's tropical climate, which is very annoying because the hot weather makes showing off killer gams in skimpy skirts and shorts such a viable fashion option.

The good news is that these marks are not permanent, says Dr Patricia Yuen, a consultant dermatologist at Pacific Healthcare Specialist Centre in Paragon.

Known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), the marks 'will fade with time unless the skin keeps getting inflamed', she says.

Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, these scars can take one week to three months to fade.

PIH tends to fade at a slower rate on darker skin, so they tend to plague Asians for a longer time than lighter-skinned Caucasians.

Beauty products that contain ingredients like vitamin C, a brightening agent, and alpha-hydroxy acids, which help to exfoliate dead skin cells, can help to expedite the process.

If you really want to wage serious chemical warfare on your scars, consult a dermatologist for prescription-based pigment lighteners. These typically cost more than $100.

A simpler and cheaper way to speed things along would be the religious application of sunblock, as exposure to sunlight will make those pesky mozzie scars darker.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Aug 29, 2008.