Dermatologist’s Tips on Pre-Holi Skin and Hair Care
As winter gives way to new blossoms, the country prepares for one of its most vibrant festivals, Holi. A festival all colourful and joyful – disconnecting us from the everyday mundane world. Holi celebrations indeed involve a lot of fun and excitement, but the chemical colors used in the celebration take a heavy toll on our skin and hair.
Holi was traditionally celebrated with natural vegetable, flower dyes and buckets of water. However, as modernisation hit, people started using synthetic pigments which not only cause irritation to our skin, hair, and eyes but also are hazardous to our health. In addition, it is more likely to get damaged from prolonged exposure to the sun. Therefore, being a little cautious pays off big time.
So, before you step out to paint the world with colours this year, here are a few pre-holi tips from the best dermatologist in Bangalore on skin and hair care that will help you have a blast without having to worry about skin irritation.
Hydrate Yourself & Wash Your Face with Cold Water
Dehydration leads to dryness and sensitive skin. Chemical colours paired with dry skin can result in acne outbursts. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day to minimise the effect of the chemical colours on your skin and avoid the expensive acne treatment in Bangalore & other parts of the country. Also, clean your face with cold water & rub ice cubes on it before you apply any protective layer of skincare products on your face. This will help close the pores on your epidermis and prevent the harsh colours & dirt from reaching the inner layers of your skin thus causing skin irritation.
Apply Almond Oil Thoroughly
Almonds are a rich source of Vitamin E which helps nourish your skin. Applying almond oil beforehand acts as a protective layer and prevents colours from sticking to your skin. Therefore, it is recommended to apply almond oil thoroughly all over your body before stepping out for the game of colours.
Wear Moisturiser & Sunscreen
Best dermatologists in Bangalore and other parts of the country suggest wearing a thick layer of moisturiser all over your body and topping it off with a layer of sunscreen of over SPF 30. Using a good waterproof and sweat-resistant sunscreen 20-30 minutes before stepping out will not only protect your skin from damage that can be caused by chemical colours but also safeguard your skin from harsh UV rays.
Also Read: How to Choose the Right Sunscreen for Your Skin Care – Tips From Top Dermatologist
Apply Petroleum Jelly
Applying a coat of petroleum jelly will shield the thinnest areas of your skin and keep it hydrated and protected. Keep your lips, neck, ears & under-eyes protected by putting on a generous amount of petroleum jelly before diving into the pool of colours. Don’t forget the smaller areas such as earlobes, nail crevices, and behind-the-ear skin where colours gravitate the most.
Opt for full-sleeve clothes
Wearing full-sleeve clothes helps to cover up large areas of your body & ensure it is exposed to less colour. It is best to cover yourself as much as possible if you don’t want to spend time scrubbing any colour off your skin and hair. Dress in full sleeves and wear your hair up in a bun or with a bandana. Even though it’s a mood downer, following these steps will minimize the risk of getting skin or hair problems.
Use Chemical Free Organic Colours
Holi is surely happy when the colours are eco-friendly. Organic chemical-free colours not only help us to avoid skin irritation and maintain healthy skin but also are environment-friendly. Chemical colours are equally harmful to the environment as it is to your skin.
Avoid Shampooing before Putting on Colours
Shampooing drains out the moisture and makes your scalp dry which can damage your hair, as dry hair absorbs more colour. So, it is advisable to avoid shampooing your hair before going out for the Holi bash.
Oil Your Hair Extensively
Oiling your hair with mustard, coconut or almond oil is one of the most basic precautions you can do before stepping out for Holi celebrations. In addition, if you have a sensitive scalp, apply a few drops of lemon juice. It will help to protect your scalp from any infection triggered by toxic synthetic colours.
Oiling also helps remove the colors from the skin , use bland cold pressed oils to remove the holi colors . and then rinse with mild syndet based body washes and soaps . avoid usage of metallic colors and take your own colors for playing Holi.
Sensitive skin and acne prone skin should specifically take precautions since these products always irritate the skin. Do a test dose of the organic color prior to Holi and if okay with the test patch go ahead with it . any irritation the skin should be immediately iced and calmed .
Avoid being in sun , use harsh exfoliating agents on skin , stop retinols 10 days before holi .
Why is Pre-Holi Skin and Hair Care Regime Important?
"Prevention is always better than cure!"
In addition to causing new lesions, chemical colours can worsen pre-existing ones, such as eczema, acne, brittle hairs, etc. Following the above-mentioned pre-holi skin & hair care tips before you step out for celebrating the festival of colours with your near & dear ones can significantly reduce the possibility of skin & hair damage.
Dr.Tina Ramachander is one of the best dermatologist in Bangalore and Medical Director at Dr.Tina’s Skin Solutionz, a skin care clinic in Bangalore. She completed her master’s in dermatology from the well acclaimed JJM Medical college in Karnataka and is now a practicising dermatosurgeon and Medical Cosmetologist in Bangalore.