Doctors push for natural hues this Holi
23 March 2013 7:13 AM IST
It's time to smear others with vibrant colours and get smeared, too, with the spring festival of Holi round the corner. Doctors, however, warn that toxic chemicals in colours could cause skin or eye infection.
The festival of colours will be celebrated on 27 March this year. ‘Celebration of Holi is meaningless without colours, but chemical colours may lead to severe complications. If the colours contain harmful chemical compounds such as oxides, metal, glass particles and substances used as a base in textile dyes, they could be extremely dangerous,’ says Anup Dhir, chief cosmetic surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
According to doctors, chemical colours have solvents such as tetrathyline, lead, benzene and aromatic compounds that can lead to dry skin.
Dark colours like red, black and green have a high content of mercury sulphite, lead oxide and copper sulphate, which could cause skin cancer. ‘Many are not aware of the harm chemical colours can cause. You may also develop rashes and allergy, hair could turn brittle and dry if not washed immediately after the colour is applied,’ Dhir said.
The week that follows Holi typically sees a spurt in certain medical conditions - rashes and allergies, mostly in children and young adults, rise by almost 40 per cent.
‘Many tend to use greasy colours and dyes for the sheer fun of it. The reaction to such chemicals usually occurs two to three hours after coming in contact with them. The problem gets aggravated if one uses soaps, detergents and kerosene to remove the stubborn colours,’ D.J.S Tula, consultant plastic surgeon at Delhi's B.L.K. Hospital, said. Preparing organic colours at home is one option to keep away from this problem.
‘If one wants to enjoy Holi without the risk posed by chemical colours, try home-made natural colours like haldi which give the yellow colour; it can be mixed with besan or gram flour to increase volume. Flowers like marigold or yellow chrysanthemums can also be crushed to get yellow colour,’ says Preeti Banzal, a home-maker.
COLOUR SCARE
The festival of colours will be celebrated on 27 March this year. ‘Celebration of Holi is meaningless without colours, but chemical colours may lead to severe complications. If the colours contain harmful chemical compounds such as oxides, metal, glass particles and substances used as a base in textile dyes, they could be extremely dangerous,’ says Anup Dhir, chief cosmetic surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
According to doctors, chemical colours have solvents such as tetrathyline, lead, benzene and aromatic compounds that can lead to dry skin.
Dark colours like red, black and green have a high content of mercury sulphite, lead oxide and copper sulphate, which could cause skin cancer. ‘Many are not aware of the harm chemical colours can cause. You may also develop rashes and allergy, hair could turn brittle and dry if not washed immediately after the colour is applied,’ Dhir said.
The week that follows Holi typically sees a spurt in certain medical conditions - rashes and allergies, mostly in children and young adults, rise by almost 40 per cent.
‘Many tend to use greasy colours and dyes for the sheer fun of it. The reaction to such chemicals usually occurs two to three hours after coming in contact with them. The problem gets aggravated if one uses soaps, detergents and kerosene to remove the stubborn colours,’ D.J.S Tula, consultant plastic surgeon at Delhi's B.L.K. Hospital, said. Preparing organic colours at home is one option to keep away from this problem.
‘If one wants to enjoy Holi without the risk posed by chemical colours, try home-made natural colours like haldi which give the yellow colour; it can be mixed with besan or gram flour to increase volume. Flowers like marigold or yellow chrysanthemums can also be crushed to get yellow colour,’ says Preeti Banzal, a home-maker.
COLOUR SCARE
- According to doctors, chemical colours have solvents such as tetrathyline, lead, benzene and aromatic compounds that can lead to dry skin
- Dark colours like red, black and green have a high content of mercury sulphite, lead oxide and copper sulphate, which could cause skin cancer
- Water balloons thrown haphazardly can potentially harm the eyes and cause chemical conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion (scratch in the cornea) and corneal burns
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