Almost in all pockets of Hyderabad, residential societies organised their own little dos. Thats showns the difference between Hyderabad and other cities of India. From the narrow lanes of Old City to the plush corners of Banjara Hills, the bright colours of Holi were visible everywhere. Vendors selling gulal and colours in Ameerpet were cheerful at the good sales this year. Said one of them, "There was some enthusiasm among people last year too but this year the spirit is really high. People are buying colours in huge Colors, water guns, and gujia are the essence of Holi, the exuberant festival of colors. Though it’s fun to play with colors and water, the aftershocks are skin, hair and eye problems such as rashes, itching, allergies, corneal abrasion and dryness.
However, that does not mean you avoid joining in the excitement. It would be better to go the tech way and use the modern day amenities to wish and celebrate holi, however if you can't resist, just follow a few precautions to keep those health hazards at bay. “ Always pick up natural colors such as gulaal made from flowers such as rose and marigold.
Stay clear of heavy colours such as purple, electric blue, green and black since these often contain harmful metal oxides such as lead oxide, which are extremely harmful for the skin. The chemicals in these colours cause contact dermatitis and skin allergies,” says Dr Chiranjiv Chabbra, dermatologist, Skin Alive Clinic.
One also runs the risks of getting dry skin and pigmentation since some colors are photosensitive. When they come in contact with sunlight, they burn the skin. This leaves deep pigmentation, which in rare instances can even lead to skin cancer.
Washing and scrubbing the skin to get the colors off leads to an even more severe problem. The best way to protect your skin from the impact of color is to apply coconut oil or Vaseline an hour before you start playing. These act as a barrier against the colors by blocking the skin pores. The same rule applies to your hair, which also absorb color in the roots and becomes weak and brittle. To prevent this, use baby oil or coconut oil.
People tend to use soaps to remove colors, which can be harmful since soaps contain esters that erode the skin layers and often cause a rash. It’s better to wash with plain water and use a soap- free cleanser.
Homemade besan and flour mixed in milk cream is also good for skin cleansing. Moisturize your skin generously after the bath and also use sun screen lotion since the dyes present in colors makes the skin more vulnerable to sun burns, darkening and rashes. If you feel slight irritation, apply calamine lotion.
Color lodged in the nails is hard to deal with since it binds with the skin under the nail and you can end up with pink or green- colored nails. Here again the best bet is to use petroleum jelly to prevent this. Also avoid a pedicure or manicure for a day or so. These treatments can either damage the nail or the cuticle, which is a covering between the skin and the nail. This way if the color is lodged inside, it would be pushed deeper.
Health hazards at bay as you revel and rejoice during the color riot During Holi, there is a need to save your eyes from irritants as well since colors are full of harmful compounds. The colors that stick to the inner surface of upper eyelid need to be removed by an ophthalmologist.
“ When colored powder gets rubbed in the eye, it can lead to corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers and even tattooing of the cornea leading to a permanent fall in vision.
“ Wash the eye immediately and if vision is blurred rush to your nearest doctor. Don’t wait because the injury would not go away with time, it would only get worse”.
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