Come March and we can't keep calm for Holi. This year, 2019 will see Holi celebrated after Holika Dahan on March 20, also known as Choti Holi. On 21st Indians will observe the rangwali Holi. While predominantly, Holi is a Hindu festival, the festival of colour and love is also celebrated by people from various backgrounds. However, the most important part of Holi is playing with colours and smearing each other's face until all of us become unrecognisable. While it is a lot of fun, the colours are made up of harmful chemicals that tend to impact the skin and hair adversely. The chemicals in artificial colours are harmful and cause various problems like skin disorders, discolouration, contact dermatitis, abrasion, irritation, itching, and dryness. Harsh chemicals in Holi colours can also cause itching and rashes that can lead to eczemas upon scratching, which is the most common type of skin reaction. Holika Dahan Images & HD Wallpapers for Free Download Online: Wish Happy Holi 2019 With WhatsApp Stickers & Beautiful GIF Greeting Messages.

Dr R K Joshi, Senior Consultant, Dermatology shares some tips to help protect your skin during Holi.

  • Wear thick clothes which cover up as much of your body as possible

    -- that way, if you're subjected to anything which has the potential to

    irritate your skin, it may not penetrate, and sensitive skin areas will be

    protected.

  • Apply Sunscreen or baby oil- A thick layer of sunscreen or baby oil will form a protective coating on the skin, which makes it difficult for colours and water to penetrate. Also, this will help in taking out colours

    easily after you're done.

  • Use reds or pinks -- shade which can be removed easily -- instead of blacks, greys, purples and oranges. The latter takes time to fade off the

    skin.

  • Apply Vaseline or petroleum jelly on your elbows and knees in

    advance -- nails, particularly, look most unsightly if the colour gets into

    their grooves and it's almost impossible to get them squeaky clean after.

  • Use a lip balm to protect your lips from getting stained.

  • Use organic colours to keep your skin safe from the harmful chemicals in artificial colours. Not only are organic colours more skin friendly, but they are also more environment-friendly!

To remove colour, don't scrub your skin excessively; it can only lead to blisters, rashes or allergic reactions. Instead, rinse your body in lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes till the colour drains off by itself.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 20, 2019 05:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).