How to Get Rid of the Burning or Stinging on Hands after cutting Hot Peppers

Nothing beats the spicy flavor that hot peppers add to your favorite dishes. Unfortunately, the chemicals in peppers that give your dishes that wonderful heat can also cause a burning sensation if they come into contact with your skin. After cutting hot peppers like jalapeño or cayenne peppers, your hands may feel like they're burning up and irritated. To relieve this burn, you'll need to get the pepper chemicals off of your hands and take precautions when cutting peppers in the future.

Chemicals in Peppers That Cause Hands to Burn

Hot peppers of all families contain a chemical known as capsaicin. When capsaicin comes into contact with your skin, it triggers pain receptors, resulting in an unpleasant burning sensation. Although capsaicin won't actually cause chemical burns, it will make your skin feel like it's burning up. Capsaicin is an alkaline chemical that's oil-like and not water soluble, so simply rinsing your hands with water won't remove it from your skin.

Removing Oil-Based Chemicals From Skin

Because capsaicin is oil-like, you'll need to use something other than water that will break it down to remove it from your skin. Dish soap has grease-cutting properties, and you can use it to help remove oils from your skin. Rubbing alcohol or high-proof liquor like vodka can also break down oil-like chemicals like capsaicin. Rinse your hands in a small bowl of alcohol for a few minutes, rubbing them together to remove as much of the oil as you can.

Neutralizing the Capsaicin From Hot Peppers

Capsaicin is alkaline, and soaking your hands in something slightly acidic will neutralize the effects of the substance on your hands. Citrus-based juice like orange or lemon can neutralize the capsaicin. Tomato juice and apple cider vinegar are also acidic liquids that will work in the same way. Pour these substances over your hands after removing as much of the capsaicin as possible with dish soap.

Milk and dairy products like yogurt and butter are slightly acidic and contain casein, a substance that helps rid your hands of capsaicin. Soaking your hands in milk for five minutes or covering your hands with yogurt or butter can calm irritated hands and remove the capsaicin. Afterwards, wash your hands with dish soap.

Preventing Hot Pepper Burn

The best option to prevent hot pepper oils from getting on your hands in the first place is to wear gloves. Latex gloves or regular rubber kitchen gloves are a great option to protect your hands when you are cutting peppers. Don't forget to wash off the gloves thoroughly, though, because the capsaicin can remain on the outside of the gloves and get on your skin when you remove them.

Another option is to cover your hands with vegetable oil prior to cutting the peppers. The oil prevents the capsaicin from sticking to your skin. It also makes it easier to remove the capsaicin with soap and water.