Keep your skin clear this Holi

Over the years, with the disappearance of some of these tree varieties from urban areas, the natural colours were gradually replaced by cheaper industrial dyes
Traditionally, Holi celebrates the return of spring – a time when several trees bloom and the colours that people use come from these flowering trees. Now, Holi is played with chemicals and toxins, grease and grime, and sometimes glass.These colours contain oxidised metals or industrial dyes and can be very harmful to the skin. Here are some precautions before and after holi to keep your skin, hair, eye and nails safe.
Precautions to be taken before playing Holi
-Make colours at home experiment with different natural products available like henna that can be used as green colour, turmeric powder can be used as yellow colour, dry rose petals and other dry petals can be grounded to make powder and used as dry gulal.
-Use a barrier cream or oil (mustard oil is best) in generous quantity on all exposed body parts. Let the skin absorb it for 20-30 minutes. Then apply waterproof sunscreen. For those with a history of skin allergy or rash, take an anti-allergic tablet on the previous night to avoid skin irritation and rash.
-Oil the hair well prior to the celebrations
-Try and wear clothes that cover most of the exposed body parts.
Harmful effects of colours
Playing with colours during holi is fun but can be harmful to the skin as well, especially people with sensitive skin. They can cause allergic contact dermatitis to colours and dyes. This will show on the skin as red rash, swelling and irritation on the area of skin where the colour was applied. Sometimes the allergy can spread on to the whole body.
The colours affect different skin in different ways. For some people especially with thin dry skin with a family history of skin allergy or asthma, even a little amount of colour can cause severe allergy or rash. In some cases even kidney failure and skin cancer has been reported.
While the application of very little amount of colours should be an ideal solution to avoid any kind of allergy, the option of application of body oil, like coconut oil, also serves as a protective layer for the skin. If the oil is applied on the body before playing with colours, it can prevent allergies and irritation. However, if the colours react or irritate the skin, they should be immediately washed away with running water. While washing off the colour, use lukewarm water and keep your eyes and lips tightly closed. If irritation persists use calamine lotion.
Treatment
In case of any irritation or burning, calamine lotion can be applied. If the irritation persists, consult a dermatologist urgently. Antihistamines, topical steroids or antibiotics can be used. In severe reactions, Systemic Steroids may be used.
Alternatives to harmful colours
Here are a few things one can do at home:
-Mix haldi powder with besan for a lovely yellow.
-Slice a beetroot and soak in water for a deep pink.
-Boil Marigold or Tesu flowers in water for yellow colour.
-The other easy way to get a yellow liquid colour is to soak peels of pomegranate (Anar) overnight.
-For an orange red paste, henna leaves (mehndi) can be dried, powdered and mixed with water.
(The article is authored by Dr Apratim Goel, a leading dermatologist)