With Holi celebrations around the corner, people across the country could not be more ready and excited to immerse themselves in the colorful, cultural festivities celebrated on March 25. And while this is one of the most popular outdoor festivities where you anticipate being drenched in colors from head to toe, it is also important to prioritize skin health to avoid common reactions and stay away from potential long-term effects.
We spoke to dermatologist Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj to get the scoop on how to deal with skin reactions, prevention strategies, identifying harmful substances, and getting professional help when needed.
It is common to have skin reactions like rashes and irritation immediately after playing with Holi colours. A common cause of the reaction is actively rubbing, exfoliating, and scratching the skin surface to remove pigmentation, which can result in irritation. Got a rash? “Apply ice to the affected area, sit under running water, or use plain yogurt, which has anti-inflammatory properties, or aloe vera gel, which can help soothe the skin. You can take an antiallergic that you have taken before,” Bhardwaj explained.
If the pain persists after a few hours, you may want to seek medical advice from a dermatologist or your local general practitioner.
Choosing natural alternatives, organic colors or herbal-certified colors instead of chemical colors like beetroot, tomato, beer, rose water, tesu and rose petals can significantly reduce the risk of allergies and skin irritation. An important note: If you have a cut on your skin, it is extremely important not to let color get into the wound.
Synthetic products used in Holi celebrations may contain ingredients like heavy metals, lead, silicone and glass fragments that can cause allergic reactions or serious health problems like cancer. It is important to exercise caution and choose natural, non-toxic alternatives to reduce the risk of side effects. Harmful chemicals like heavy metals and synthetic chemicals can damage the skin in the long run.
Repeated exposure to synthetic chemicals during Holi can lead to chronic skin problems, which is why skin health is a priority during and after the festival. “In addition, several long-term conditions such as lichen planus, lichenoid pigmentosus and vitiligo are seen very frequently, which can be triggered by factors such as hair color, skin cancer, sarcoidosis, internal disorders, allergies, acute tick areas and chronic ticks. Area. These conditions do not develop immediately; They may appear after three months, six months or even three years and no one can be blamed,” Bhardwaj said.
In case of severe skin rash or persistent symptoms after Holi, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible. Symptoms such as bleeding, high fever, irritation or watery eyes require immediate attention from a dermatologist or healthcare provider. If such symptoms are ignored, they can further lead to complications and damage the skin.
