Holi is the day to express love with colors. It is a time to enjoy and show affection . Traditionally , the Holi festival was all about natural colors made with flowers and herbs. But later these have been replaced with dyes, chemicals ,heavy metals and sometimes even with acids ,mica , glass powder etc .
So , with Holi around the corner , let’s ensure
to make it enjoyable without having to worry about handling fast colors. I am
sharing some basic tips to enjoy this colorful festival without any worry.
Even though
we intend to use herbal ,organic and chemical free colors , we cannot check what others are using
. Therefore , we need to prepare our self accordingly as chemicals used in some
of the Holi colors can often cause a serious skin problem.
Pre- Holi Precautions :
1)
Before stepping out on Holi day , oil
yourself from head to toe. Massage your body either with coconut , mustard or
Vitamin E oil. This would reduce absorption of colors in the scalp and skin etc.
Oiling in places like behind the ear, between finger tips , near finger nails
is very important.
2)
Wear cotton clothes that will cover
most of our skin , This way you will have less of skin to battle with while
removing colors later on.
3)
Women should be extra careful. The precaution should start at least a week
before Holi. They should avoid any procedure that involves opening of the pores
or damage to the barrier of skin . These include threading , waxing , peeling
or any laser treatment etc.
4)
Moisturise your skin well if it is
dry . Let its texture be normal with
moisturisation. Dry skin allows chemicals to penetrate easily.
5)
Cover our head with a colourful Bandana or cap. This way you can make a
fashion statement and keep your hair free from colours as well.
6)
Use enough sun screen on all exposed
parts including a balm on lips with SPF.
7)
For eyes do not wear lenses . Infact completely
avoid wearing lenses or glasses . But if
you can not do without glasses , just be careful while applying colors. Infact
wear protective sun glasses while playing Holi. An old pair of sunglasses is a
good idea that also looks fashionable.
8)
Hydrate yourself internally too and drink
lots of water , Thandai and juices.
9)
If there are any open wounds or cuts
on the body , use band-aid or bandage to cover them before the Holi. This is to
avoid entry and absorption of harmful chemicals in the blood stream that could
later have more damaging effects.
10) Use herbal colors only. Otherwise , the chemicals in the colour can result into rashes and cracks in the skin – the list is endless.
Click to read : Precautions during pregnancy
Tips for removing Colors after
playing Holi:
1)
Theideal way is to dust all
the dry colors away with hand or a piece of cloth gently without rubbing the
skin.
2)
To remove fast colors you can apply a
homemade pack of Besan , Curd , Turmeric and Rose water. After applying on skin
, wait until it dries completely . This will help in removing stubborn colors
from the skin , especially face.
3)
While bathing , stand under running
water for 5 to 10 minutes . Do not scrub too hard and do not scratch anywhere , as the friction of
rubbing would aid in penetration of colors. The color would fade in a day or
two.
4)
Holi colors often leave our skin dry.
Therefore , after the shower pat dry your skin to leave it slightly damp and
apply some thick body lotion to trap the water on the surface of skin . Repeat
moisturizer each time your skin feels dry.
5)
Oil your hair overnight if needed.
6)
Avoid using toners, scrubs or bleaching
creams.
7)
Visit a dermatologist immediately if
your skin is red , irritated , burning , itching or breaking out after the
festival.
Have a safe and Happy Holi.
Dr.Suman Setia (BAMS DNHE PGDHHM)
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