Before you settle on plastering green colour on your friends or innocently smearing someone’s face with gulal, be wary of the risks. You might just be gifting a deadly infection or a serious skin complication. Most colours that do the rounds during Holi are composed of metallic oxides and industrial dyes (those used for dying clothes) that may be carcinogenic or lead to degrees of long-lasting complications. Although doctors advise avoiding artificial colours, the fact remains that there is no guarantee that people abide by this diktat.Each colour comprises different components, which react with our skin differently and cause various degrees of harm to our skin, eyes and hair. For instance, the colour black has lead oxide, which is a known carcinogen. Green and purple have chromium and bromide compounds, which have the same effect. Colours like silver contain aluminium bromide, which is also a carcinogen. Red has mercury sulphite, which is highly toxic and causes skin cancer.Impurities like mica, ground glass, acids, alkalis, heavy metals like lead, copper, mercury, nickel contained in colours result in allergic dermatitis, which produces itching. Even dry colours like gulal are not always safe. They contain metal, glass particles, powdered mica and even aniline, which is used as a base in textile industry. Gulal comprises two components, a colourant that is toxic, and a base which has either asbestos or silica. This is the substance that causes irritation and breathing disorders across all ages.So doctors advise people not to use gulal on the face, as once inhaled, it can cause breathlessness and trigger a respiratory attack.Though no colour manufacturer openly admits to harmful substances being present, truth is that there are no legal safeguards against such practices. So it is better to be safe than sorry.The most common complaint is of “contact dermatitis” whose symptoms usually range from itching, redness and inflammation of the skin tissue. Dr Sachin Dhawan, dermatologist, Umkal Hospital says: “Every time the skin comes into contact with these colours, there is redness and itchiness. It only takes five minutes to take effect. Some people show early signs and have immediate hypersensitivity, whereas others take longer, thus having delayed hypersensitivity.” To avoid this, one can rub petroleum jelly on the body. This is better than oil, since it is inert and does not cause any allergic reaction. Dr Ajita Bagai, consultant dermatologist, Max hospital, agrees. Petroleum jelly, he points out, blocks the pores, thereby stopping the harmful agents from entering the skin. One also runs the risk of getting dry skin and pigmentation. The latter occurs when the skin comes in contact with sunlight. Explains Bagai, “Some colours are photosensitive. When they come in contact with sunlight, the skin burns. This leaves deep pigmentation, which may lead to skin cancer as the colours get absorbed by the second layer of skin.” But these cases are very rare. What is most common is skin irritation . There are some precautions that need to be taken after Holi and this is crucial if you want to prevent infection. • Doctors strictly advise against the use of soaps as they contain esters that erode the lipid layers on the skin and may lead to rashes. Dhawan suggests using a soap-free cleanser preferably a water-based moisturiser. “Always apply a moisturiser as it keeps the skin lubricated.” • To remove pigmentation, one should use an alcohol-based lotion that dissolves the colours, says Dr Anil Kumar Malik, dermatologist, GM Modi hospital.• Do not rub areas that feels sore or itches. In case the itch is caused by a colour that had benzene, it may dissolve the keratin (the topmost layer of skin). Explains Dhawan, “The colour is a chemical and it is dissolved in a solvent. The solvent dissolves the keratin allowing the colours to enter the skin. So on the whole, it is advisable to use gulal.” • Do not use substances like nailpolish remover (acetone) to get the colours off. The acetone helps the skin absorb the irritant compounds. Lead and mercury cause the maximum damage.Even our hair is not spared. It becomes brittle, since colours seep into the roots. To prevent this, Bagai advises using baby or coconut oil. “These oils are low in chemical components and thus are mild on the scalp. It is better to use these oils rather than mustard oil.” Eyes are most at risk, since the harmful compounds can affect the cornea and colours can seep in through the mucosa (tissue). This is a direct route for cancer causing agents to enter the body. Ophthalmologist Dr Sanjiv Malik from Max healthcare says: “Black has lead oxide which causes renal failure, green has copper sulfate that causes eye allergy and affects sight, silver has aluminium bromide which is carcinogenic, asbestos and silica are hazardous to the eyes resulting in chemical conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions and chemical burns.”Opthalmologist Ajeet Bharadwaj from Optique Eye & Ear Clinic, says: “Dry colours that enter the eye affect the cornea and cause cornea haemorrhage since manufacturers mix mica in these colours. The symptoms are pain, irritation, watering of the eyes and photophobia. Even people who wear contact lenses are at risk. Contact lenses have a tendency to absorb colours. So it is better to use disposable lenses.”Even water balloons are a threat. “It causes serious eye trauma varying from conjunctival haemorrhage, hyphaema, lacerations of the eye structures, retinal detachment and traumatic cataract. Vision can be permanently impaired,” he adds. If colour enters the eyes, the best remedy is to splash plain water as that dilutes the foreign agents preventing further harm. Advises Bhardwaj, “People who have undergone an eye surgery recently must avoid playing Holi as that may cause a relapse. Also there is no precautionary medication as in the case of skin.” So keep these steps in mind and have a safe Holi.
