For most people, gearing up for Holi is synonymous with shopping for pichkaris, colour buckets, kurtas and sweets. However, for those allergic to chemicals present in some of the colours, the festival brings distress, as they have to take measures to prevent the onslaught of reactions. From signs on the skin such as itching, redness and rashes to symptoms of respiratory distress such as sneezing, breathlessness and cough, being exposed to the colours or inhaling them can cause a variety of allergy symptoms.
For many years, Megha K, a Bengaluru-based graphic designer, spent Holi trying to stay as far away from colours as possible; she would feel a burning sensation on her palms when she came in contact with the colour powders. Recalling her childhood, Megha says, “Every time I played Holi with my friends, I would rush home within a few minutes to wash myself as my body would start to itch. I would get rashes on my face, hands and neck. My grandparents’ suggestion to apply oil before playing Holi only made the skin irritation worse.”
The problem was solved after her mother, who identified the issue — artificial colours — started preparing organic powder at home prior to the festival. “Now, I celebrate the festival with my family and friends but in a closed circle. I make it a point that all of us only use organic colours so that it doesn’t affect me,” Megha tells Happiest Health.
A common Holi myth
One of the commonly seen practices during Holi includes applying oil to the palms, hands and face before getting on with the festivities. However, doctors call it nothing but a myth, adding that doing so leads to the retention of pigments.
Dr Gatha M Upadya, dermatologist, KMC Hospital, Mangaluru, Karnataka, says applying oil before playing Holi will only make the situation worse; the colours will stick to the skin, making it more difficult to remove them.
Can Holi colours cause allergies?
If an individual has contact dermatitis (an allergic reaction in the skin induced by an allergen), the chemicals in artificial colours will trigger an allergic reaction, making it worse, says Dr Upadya. “Someone with contact dermatitis or a history of chemical allergies must avoid any contact with artificial colour powders, as those would affect their skin, resulting in itching and rashes, among other symptoms,” she adds.
She also shares that artificial colours cause the chemicals to stay on the skin for a long time, which may result in itchiness. “Some people experience pimples due to the closure of oil glands as well as chemicals from the colour powder. Playing with liquid colours makes it worse, as the chemicals stick to the skin. Hence, one must always opt for natural and organic colours while playing Holi,” she advises.
Perils of inhaling Holi colours
Dr Naveen Dutt, additional professor, pulmonary medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, says if one experiences respiratory symptoms such as cough and breathlessness after inhaling Holi colours, they should consult a doctor.
“Earlier, people used to apply colour only on the skin. However, nowadays, there is a trend of just releasing colours in the air for the sake of getting better pictures. This can cause allergic reactions, leading to symptoms like coughing, breathlessness and sneezing. When someone presents with these symptoms after playing Holi, it means they have inhaled the colours, which is causing the allergy,” he elaborates.
He recalls a case from a few years ago. “This was a young boy in his early 20s who was involved in packaging the colours in Jodhpur. Two days before Holi, he presented with severe respiratory symptoms, including cough and breathlessness. The infection progressed to pneumonia. A respiratory allergy caused by playing Holi is usually more severe than just dermatological reactions.”
Holi colours can hurt your eyes
“Eye irritation is one of the common reactions that we see during the festival. Our eyes are sensitive and get irritated when exposed to the chemicals. One must immediately wash their eyes if there’s a lingering burning sensation accompanied by redness; they must also seek medical help,” advises Dr Upadya.
Experts list the following tips to ensure a safe and allergy-free Holi:
- Keep the skin moisturised.
- Clean and moisten the scalp with a chemical-free shampoo and conditioner.
- Wash the colour out of the skin gently using warm water; do not scrub hard.
- Protect the hair by covering the head with a shawl or a bandana.
Takeaways
- People allergic to the chemicals in artificial colours should watch out for respiratory symptoms along with those on their skin and eyes.
- Doctors suggest using organic, non-toxic colours instead of artificial ones.
- If one experiences irritation on the skin, eyes or throat, they should immediately wash the colour out; medical help should be sought if the symptoms persist.
