Happy Holi: Enjoy the festivities but be careful of these things!

New Delhi: Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated with joy all over the country. It is the time to shed the veil of worries and indulge in the childlike happiness by filling your life with wonderful colours. Powders of various shades and buckets of differently coloured water are laid out for everyone to partake in this jolly festivity.

But while indulging in the fun, it is imperative to express caution at the same time. During the festival of Holi, the colours used are more often than not made up of substances which are bad for skin.

Dr R K Joshi, Senior Consultant, Dermatology and Venereology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals lists out various precautions one can take to protect his/her skin from any harmful effects of Holi colours.

Before Holi: What one can do to prepare their skin for the festival

1. Before playing Holi, one should thoroughly apply moisturizer on the exposed skin. Not only will it soothe the skin, but this will also create a barrier which will prevent the harmful pigment from seeping into it through the pores. People with sensitive skin and those who have a history of skin diseases like eczema, should be extra vigilant.

2. Wear white or light coloured clothes, preferably made of cotton, while playing Holi. Dark coloured clothes can trigger an allergic reaction in those who have sensitive skin.

3. One should also wear long-sleeved clothes to cover as much skin as possible as it will create a physical barrier between the skin and the colours, thus protecting the skin from a direct impact.

4. The same protection can also be given to the hair. While playing Holi, it is better to cover one’s hair. If that is not agreeable, then one should massage some oil, preferably coconut oil, in the hair. This oil will create a film between the colour and the hair shaft, thus lending a protective effect.

5. While playing Holi, use fine powders and clean water for mixing the colours. Avoid using paints as they can be most damaging. Heavy colours like black and silver should be avoided because they are made up of toxic substances which can easily seep in the skin and become tough to remove.

After Holi: Things to do to take care of the skin

1. Wash off the colours at the earliest. Do not wait and let the colours linger on the skin, especially if it is hypersensitive as it can cause dermatitis.

2. Use soft soaps to wash off the colours. Avoid anti-septic soaps as they tend to irritate the skin.

3. Those who suffer from eczema should apply their normal routine creams, but not the steroidal ones, after washing off the colours.

4. Don’t scrub the skin too hard and for too long to remove the colours, as it can lead to post-inflammatory pigmentation. It can also lead to the abraded skin becoming infected. It is better to wait a few days for the colour to fade on its own rather than being too harsh on your skin.

5. After washing off the colours, it is advisable to apply moisturizer to keep your skin supple and soft.