Every year, the days after Holi bring a familiar set of visits: itchy, burning rashes on the face and arms, dry, rough hair, stained, flaking skin that someone tried to scrub clean, and now and then a red, painful eye. Indian dermatologists describe this annual spate of “Holi dermatoses” in the medical literature. Most of it is avoidable with ten minutes of preparation and a gentle clean-up.
Why Holi colours irritate the skin
Traditional gulal was made from flowers, leaves and turmeric. Much of what is sold today is industrial dye mixed into a base of powder, sometimes with mica or glass particles for shine. These colours are made on a small scale, with no quality checks.
- In a study of 200 dry colour samples bought in Kolkata, every packet claimed to be herbal, yet the average lead level in every colour was above the reference limit, and the samples carried high levels of bacterial endotoxin.
- Dyes can cause irritant dermatitis (a burn-like reaction from the chemical itself) or allergic contact dermatitis in people who are sensitised.
- Gritty or shiny powders cause tiny abrasions, and eye injuries from colour, from conjunctivitis to scratches on the cornea, are reported every year.
Labels such as “herbal”, “organic” or “skin-safe” are not a guarantee. Home-made colours (turmeric, beetroot, flower petals) or food-grade colours are gentler choices, but the steps below help whatever you play with.
Before you play
The night before and the morning of
- Moisturise well for a day or two before. Intact, well-hydrated skin resists colour and irritation better than dry, cracked skin.
- Skip waxing, threading, scrubs, bleach, peels and facials for a few days beforehand; freshly treated skin reacts more easily.
- If you use a retinoid, an acne gel or a prescription cream on the face, pause it the night before (check with your dermatologist), and keep colour off that skin.
Just before you go out
- Oil or a thick moisturiser on the face, neck, ears, arms and feet, including behind the ears and along the hairline. This slick layer stops colour sticking and makes it easier to wash off later.
- Sunscreen on exposed skin: broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, applied over the moisturiser. Holi is a long morning outdoors in March sun, and a sunburn under the colour makes everything sting more.
- Oil your hair from root to tip and tie it up; a cap or scarf helps.
- Petroleum jelly or lip balm on the lips, and nail polish (even clear) on finger- and toenails to stop staining of the nails and cuticles.
- Full sleeves and long pants in cotton, and sunglasses to protect the eyes.
While you play
- Keep colour away from the eyes, nose and mouth. Ask friends to apply colour on the cheeks and arms, not over the face.
- Avoid colours that look metallic, gritty or shiny, or that smell of chemicals or petrol.
- If colour gets into an eye, don’t rub: rinse gently with plenty of clean water.
- Drink water through the morning. A long session in the sun dehydrates both you and your skin.
After: getting the colour off gently
The clean-up causes almost as many problems as the colours. Scrubbing, harsh soaps, kerosene and detergent strip the skin barrier and turn a stain into a rash.
- Dust off dry colour first, before wetting it.
- Massage in a little oil or cleansing milk to loosen colour on the face and body.
- Wash with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free face wash or body wash. Repeat once if needed; hot water and strong soaps make irritation worse.
- Never use kerosene, petrol, detergent, bleach or lemon on the skin.
- Moisturise straight after, while the skin is still slightly damp. A rich body moisturiser such as our Body Butter helps on dry arms and legs.
- Leave the faint stain. What stays after two gentle washes usually fades in a few days as the outer skin renews. Scrubbing it does more harm than the stain.
For hair: rinse with plenty of plain water first, then a mild shampoo, and finish with conditioner. Avoid hair colouring, straightening and other chemical treatments for about a week.
For the next few days, skip scrubs, peels, retinoids and other active products, and keep up sunscreen.
Who should take extra care
- People with eczema, sensitive skin or a history of allergies.
- Anyone with active acne, especially on prescription treatment.
- Anyone who has had a laser, peel or other skin procedure in the past two weeks, or has one planned soon after Holi.
- People with melasma or pigmentation: a morning in the sun can undo weeks of progress, so sunscreen and a cap matter even more. See melasma.
- Children, whose skin is thinner and who are more likely to get colour in their eyes and mouth.
When to see a doctor
- A rash that burns, blisters, oozes or spreads, or doesn’t settle within a day or two of gentle care: it may be contact dermatitis and needs proper treatment, not a steroid cream from the chemist (here’s why).
- Swelling of the face, lips or eyelids, or any trouble breathing: go to emergency care straight away.
- A painful or red eye, blurred vision or sensitivity to light: see an eye doctor the same day.
- Acne, pigmentation or hair damage that flares and doesn’t settle in a week or two.
The short version
Oil and moisturiser go on before, sunscreen over them, and colour stays off the eyes and mouth. Afterwards, loosen the colour with oil, wash with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, moisturise, and let any faint stain fade on its own. If the skin burns, blisters or spreads, or an eye hurts, see a doctor rather than waiting it out. For skin rashes and allergies that need a diagnosis, see a skin specialist in Rajkot.
