How to Relieve the Stinging Burn from Hot Peppers

As I looked at my rapidly ripening tomatoes, I racked my brain for a way to use them up before they went bad. A friend had told me about making a quick salsa with overripe tomatoes, so I decided to give it a shot. I tossed grape tomatoes, onion, garlic, and red chili peppers into my immersion blender, and let it do the work. In no time, I had a bowl of fresh, flavorful salsa. I couldn’t have been happier with the result.

However, shortly after preparing the salsa, I touched my eyes, and the fiery burn from the hot pepper spread. With contacts in, things quickly turned into a disaster as I tried to remove them. It took a full 12 hours before the burning sensation completely disappeared from my eyes and hands. Lesson learned—never make that mistake again.

Chili peppers contain a powerful heat, concentrated in their seeds and membranes, thanks to a compound called capsaicin. This oil spreads quickly and aggressively on anything it touches, and water won’t do anything to stop it. A good rule of thumb is to always wear gloves when handling hot peppers. If you don't have any, try coating your skin with vegetable oil as a barrier.

If you end up making the same mistake I did, avoid touching any other part of your body—especially don't attempt to remove your contacts or use the bathroom until you’ve properly cleaned the capsaicin off your hands with the right remedies.

Milk

Many of our team members swear by this tried-and-true method for soothing a pepper burn. Simply pour yourself a glass of milk and use it to blot your eyes, or fill a bowl to soak larger areas, like your hands. Keep the affected area submerged for as long as possible, or until the burning sensation fades. This is the best alternative to water for relieving the heat in your eyes.

Yogurt

At many restaurants, spicy dishes often come with a cooling yogurt sauce. Yogurt works wonders for easing the sting of a pepper burn, whether it's on your tongue or your skin. Spoon some yogurt into a bowl and dip your hands into the creamy texture. The burn should start to ease, but we suggest leaving your hands submerged for up to an hour for the best results.

Oil

If you forgot to coat your hands with oil before chopping, try washing your hands with vegetable oil once you're done. Since pepper oils dissolve better in other oils than in water, this should help lift the burning residue off your skin.

Dish Soap

While this method didn’t completely eliminate the burn for me, it did offer some relief. Dish soap is formulated to break down oils, unlike regular hand soap. Scrubbing your hands with dish soap and rinsing under hot water can help remove some of the lingering pepper oils.

Baking Soda

Most people have baking soda in their kitchen or fridge. Create a paste by mixing baking soda and water, then soak your hands in it. Once the paste dries, wash it off along with the pepper burn. You can repeat this process until the sensation is fully gone.

Stainless Steel

An old folk remedy claims that rubbing your hands on stainless steel can eliminate the smell of strong foods like onion and garlic. In a similar way, it’s believed that stainless steel can also help remove pepper oils. Try rubbing your hands against a block of stainless steel to lift away the oils, then wash your hands with dish soap to finish the job.

Alcohol

That bottle of vodka you have sitting around can do more than just make a tasty penne alla vodka. Pour a high-proof alcohol like vodka, or even rubbing alcohol, over the affected area for quick relief. The alcohol helps absorb the oils, easing the burn and keeping your hands pain-free.