The auspicious festival of Holi is around the corner and the soothing fragrance of spring flowers is all around.
Say NO to harmful Chinese synthetic colors
Before you go shopping for colors, pichkaris and water balloons, to play with your loved ones, a word of vigilance from the experts “Stay away” from the harmful Chinese synthetic colors for they may leave you with itchy skin and rashes to your whole body, dry hair and burning eyes.
Holi is a much-awaited festival that is celebrated with fervour omnivorously to symbolise the triumph of good over evil. This prosperous festival has undergone a lot of changes over centuries and it’s really sad that all the purity and goodness of natural colors have lost it’s worth and are replaced with toxic, deadly, very unhealthy synthetic chemical colors.
Nowadays, unhealthy industrial dyes are being used since they are a lot cheaper and often extravagantly bright. Pieces of plastic and glass, alkalis, acids and mica, and other toxic substances which are not meant for humans use. Even the slightest use of any of these substances can cause damage to one’s skin like abrasions, itching, rashes, irritation, eye infections, allergies and hair roughness too.
The experts suggest using Natural and herbal colors which are extracted from flowers and many natural substances. Even Dr. Ekta Nigam, the Senior consultant and Unit Head of Dermatology and Cosmetology from Paras Hospital said, “I would suggest using natural colors and moisturising the face, hair and skin evenly using oil. Natural colors are the best in Holi as they are washed off easily and don’t contain chemicals in them.”
“To protect the skin from these harsh synthetic compounds one can lather the face, eyelids and ears and moisturize the skin from top to toe with coconut or olive oil so that the colors get whipped off easily,” she explained further.
Doctor Nigam further added to her statement, “One must use cold water or ice in the case of redness or irritation in the eyes or skin. I would suggest people use sunscreen twice a day and not to wear makeup or contact lenses as it can lead to eye infections”. The doctor warned of using colored balloons or any strong dye colors as they can potentially cause permanent eye damage.
The aforementioned precautions can help protect your skin from the harmful effects of synthetic colors. As we know that prevention is better than cure therefore, one should always play Holi in a natural way.
Making natural colors isn’t a very tough job and can be interesting too. One can make natural colors by simply using turmeric, chandan and henna and mixing them in different combinations. Such colors are harmless, truly herbal and they wash off your skin easily. And yes, playing Holi with flowers is an absolutely adorable way to celebrate it. Obviously, you would like to rub harmful synthetic colors on your friends’ face for fun but the circumstances will cost you huge. Neither would you like your chums to splash a bucket of the acidic mixture over you.
So play safe, and make this HOLI a memorable one by celebrating it with herbal colors.