Holi hacks: SPF 30, sunglasses and other essentials; check out pre-preps for skin & eye care before stepping out

Holi, the Indian festival of colours, also marks the arrival of spring. This day, which signifies the triumph of good over evil, is celebrated with bright colours of every shade imaginable. Friends, families, and even strangers douse each other in colours, and caution is usually thrown to the wind.

However, one important aspect of Holi is that we get lost in the middle of all the hue and cry of colours and forget to take proper care of our skin and eyes while playing with colours. But this year, when you choose a white kurta for the celebrations, also make sure to prep your skin and hair before stepping out.

Harsh colours combined with sun exposure can cause skin irritation, dryness, and dullness. ¡°Ideally, to protect your skin, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 and above to protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Opting for a waterproof and sweat-resistant sunscreen will be more beneficial for the skin,¡± says Dr. Jisha Pillai, dermatologist, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai.

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Protect your skin with SPF 30

Along with oiling your skin before stepping out, do not forget to use SPF 30 sunscreen to protect the skin from harmful sun rays. Dr. Pillai suggests, ¡°Try checking the label for ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for better protection from the harsh rays of the sun. Reapply the sunscreen every four hours if you are going to be outdoors for a long time. Always consult an expert and choose a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, or oil-free product to avoid clogging your pores, especially if you have sensitive skin.¡±

Apart from wearing sunscreen, also follow other sun protection measures such as wearing sunglasses, a hat, and full-sleeved clothes without fail and prevent sun tanning. Choosing the right sunscreen helps you celebrate Holi without worrying about skin damage and prevents any skin problems. Use a gentle cleanser to get rid of the colours on the face and body. Use only natural or organic colours to play.

Lastly, do not forget to hydrate well with water and juices throughout the day.

Don¡¯t forget the sunglasses

The human eye is one of the most sensitive organs, and it needs to be taken utmost care of, as uncontrolled use of colours can damage the eye and have long-term consequences, and this stands true for people of all ages.

First and foremost, make sure to wear sunglasses as a form of protective eye gear to keep colours from leaking into your eyes. ¡°Most of the colours available in the market are made with toxic, harmful, and synthetic materials like mercury, asbestos, silica, mica, lead, and industrial-grade dyes. They can lead to serious ophthalmological and skin issues. If sunglasses are too heavy for you, opt for caps; their wide brim will keep the colour from falling in your eye. The glittery red particles found in colours are actually mica, and they can even damage the cornea,¡± says Dr. P. Suresh, HOD-Ophthalmology, Fortis Hospital, Mulund.

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Eye care¡ªDon¡¯t skip this

If you wear contact lenses, make sure to opt for regular glasses on Holi, as it will also act as protective eyewear. Dr. Suresh, ¡°If you play Holi in lenses, colour and chemicals might get deposited on your contact lens, and this can cause significant vision damage. Additionally, if you take off your lenses with your colour-stained hands, you might end up damaging your lenses; this can also cause infections to be transmitted directly into your eyes.¡±

As a precaution, you can even rub a little coconut oil on the area around your eyes; that will lubricate the surrounding skin and keep colour from entering your eyes.

If by any chance colour does end up in your eyes, wash it off immediately with lukewarm water; do not use soap of any kind, as this will further irritate your eyes. ¡°If your eyes still feel irritated, itchy, and swollen, or if you experience any vision problems, even after washing your eyes with water, visit an eye doctor without delay. Avoid rubbing your eyes if they are irritated and swollen, as it can cause irritation and spread the colour further into your eyes, leading to severe eye problems such as conjunctivitis or corneal abrasion,¡± Dr. Suresh.

Keep anti-allergic medications handy

Experts recommend making it a point to carry anti-allergic medications with you to be used in case of any allergic reactions that may take place while participating in the Holi festival. ¡°Itching, redness, swelling of the eyes, skin rashes, and difficulty breathing are some of the most common symptoms of allergic reactions that you should be on the lookout for,¡± Dr. Suresh.

Choose natural or organic colours

The safest and most ecologically sound way of playing Holi is by using natural colours instead of toxic chemical ones. You can make your own colours using homemade ingredients like besan, turmeric, saffron, rose petals, palak, beetroots, etc.

Such colours will not stain your face or eyes and will come off easily after a nice wash. Moreover, they do not contain any of the harmful and toxic chemicals that are there in most store-bought colours. If you do not have the time to make your own colours, buy organic colours that are made with flower petals, herb extracts, and starch powder.

Have a safe and happy Holi, delight your gastronomic and visual senses in this yearly festival of colours.