New Delhi: Holi brings colour, unrestrained joy, a promise full of warm days and new beginnings.Most of us enjoy this festival just because it offers the opportunity to throw restraint out of the window for a few hours.Colour is the essence of Holi but the use of these colours also brings along some skin related problems as the skinfriendly natural dyes used a decade ago have now been replaced by synthetic dyes that have toxic effects.To minimise the potential effects of these on the skin and hair, it's best to take precautions. The precautions have to be taken for some days before and after Holi.Here is the list:1. Make you sure what you wear during the festival covers the maximum of your body so that there will be less of skin exposed. 2. The best way to protect your skin is to apply a thick layer of oil or petroleum jelly on the exposed parts of the body an hour before you step out. Also, use sunscreen since the dyes present in the colours make the skin vulnerable to sun burns, darkening and rashes. 3. Avoid all facial treatments during this period. If you are prone to allergies and rashes, visit your dermatologist to check whether you need precautionary medication. 4. Protect your nails by applying nail polish as this will give you a protective coat. 5. If you have acne avoid scrubbing your face past Holi. Use a paste of raw milk and besan and gently work on your face to remove the colours. 6. Drink loads of water before you start playing Holi. This will keep your skin hydrated. Also keep sipping water carefully while playing Holi. 7. For lips, apply a lip balm generously.Don't get waxing, threading done at least 3-4 days before Holi. 8. People tend to use soaps to remove colours but these contain esters that erode the skin layers and often cause rashes thus its better to prefer a soap-free cleanser to remove the colour. 9. You can use kerosene, spirit or petrol to remove the colour and says a cream-based cleanser or baby oil is the best option. 10. Hot water will further stick the colour on your skin. So, splash cold water
