Holi, the festival of colours is here and people who love to celebrate it cannot wait to soak themselves in the vibrant hues of Holi. Children especially are quite fond of Holi. While the blast of colours is a visual treat and getting drenched in the coloured water is a joy, the excitement of the festival can be marred by chemical-based colours that can play spoilsport, and lead to many harmful effects on health from skin issues, eye problems to respiratory troubles. Synthetic dyes in the colours can trigger itching, redness, and inflammation, sometimes escalating into dermatitis or eczema. Moreover, the abrasive nature of these colours can physically damage the skin, causing micro-tears and abrasions. Unfortunately, Holi colours may harm the skin and hair.
Earlier, Holi was played with natural colors, extracted from flowers, which had a soothing effect on the skin. The colors available in the market today, on the other hand, contain toxic chemicals which have not been certified as fit for use on human skin and eyes. The colors used during holi can make your hair go dull and brittle and can even cause irritant dermatitis and eczema. The chemicals used to impart these colours include toxic metals like Lead Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Aluminium Bromide and Mercury Sulphite, among others.
Organic colours are a great alternative. Organic colours are made from natural extracts and are easily available online. Mostly made out of dried leaves, fruits and flowers, they are not only skin and health-friendly but also harmless for the environment. Different types of edible grade ingredients are used to make various colours. For example, the color red can be made organically using maize and rose flower petals. Synthetic colours have always had a very negative impact on the environment as well as animals. The chemicals in them often cause the decay of plants and other microorganisms, causing tremendous harm to the environment. The colours, if splashed on stray animals and pets, can also cause skin irritation. On the other hand organic and natural colours are safer to use because of its natural extracts.
