Asma Abbas in pain post-botched skin session

KARACHI: Senior television actor Asma Abbas has revealed she developed a severe allergic reaction following a skin cauterisation procedure meant to remove facial freckles.

The Man Joggi star shared the health update in a recent YouTube video, explaining that dark facial spots – a hereditary condition in her family – prompted her to seek medical treatment. “Unlike other family members, I developed these on my face,” said Abbas, mother of actor Zara Noor Abbas and sister of Bushra Ansari.

Medical professionals had recommended skin cauterisation, a procedure using heat or chemicals to remove unwanted tissue. However, the actor reported developing acute facial redness after applying an unspecified face mask the night before her scheduled treatment.

“I suddenly developed a severe allergy where a large part of my face turned red,” the veteran performer disclosed, while requesting prayers for her recovery.

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Skin cauterisation is commonly used to remove skin tags, warts or tumors while preventing infection. Medical experts typically advise patients to avoid skincare products before such procedures to prevent adverse reactions.

In an interview to Dawn in October last year, she expressed concerns about being frequently typecast in stereotypical roles, particularly as the “evil mother-in-law,” despite her proven ability to handle complex characters in dramas like Mann Jogi and Ranjha Ranjha Kardi. The accomplished performer, who is also the sister of Bushra Ansari and mother of Zara Noor Abbas, takes a practical approach to her career, accepting conventional roles to remain active while waiting for more substantial opportunities.

After a 20-year break from acting to focus on her family, followed by a successful return after battling cancer, Abbas has faced disappointment in being overlooked for awards despite strong performances in projects like Chupke Chupke. She currently balances her professional commitments with personal priorities, including her son’s upcoming wedding, while remaining open to quality roles that may come her way.

While comparisons to her famous sister sometimes arise, Abbas has carved her own path in the industry. She continues to hope for more challenging scripts like Mann Jogi that can showcase her full range as an actor, demonstrating both patience and professionalism as she navigates the realities of television drama production.