Buzz
Chili peppers, including jalapeño, serrano, cayenne, habanero, and ghost peppers, contain capsaicin, the primary component of pepper spray. Capsaicin enhances the flavor and spiciness of food but can also induce an intense burning sensation on the skin and in the mouth. Fortunately, household items like milk can alleviate the discomfort.
Procedures
Alleviating Skin Burns Caused by Chili Peppers
Use dish soap to cleanse hands or skin. While hand soap is an option, dish soap is more effective at breaking down the oils from chili peppers. Many individuals experience a painful burning sensation on their skin upon contact with chili pepper oil.
- Alternatively, intermittently dip your fingers into a solution of water and bleach (5 parts water to 1 part bleach) while handling chili peppers.
- The bleach converts the capsaicin into a water-soluble salt, which can then be rinsed away with water.
- Exercise caution to avoid getting bleach on the peppers. After handling the peppers, wash your hands thoroughly with dish soap.
Utilize alcohol to soothe your hands or affected skin areas. Chili oil and capsaicin, the culprits behind the burning sensation, are soluble in alcohol.
- Apply rubbing alcohol to your hands. Even if you opt for other cooling methods, starting with rubbing alcohol can effectively cleanse your hands.
- Turn to the liquor cabinet and select a high-proof alcohol like vodka. Rub it onto your hands or other affected areas to remove the burning oils.
- Alternatively, create a baking soda paste by mixing baking soda and water. Apply it to your hands, allowing it to dry before rinsing it off.
Submerge your hands in a bowl of milk. Opt for ice-cold milk and consider adding ice cubes to the bowl. While immersing your hands in ice water can also help, it's less effective.
- For some individuals, the burning sensation from chili peppers can be excruciating and persist for hours. Therefore, seeking immediate relief is understandable.
- Experiment with adding flour to the milk to create a paste-like glove. Leave it on for several minutes before washing it off.
- Prior to immersing your hands in ice water or milk, apply rubbing alcohol. Cold milk is preferable, and ice-cold milk is even better.
Apply oil to your hands or affected skin areas. Other oils can dissolve the potent chili oils, alleviating the burning sensation. Consider using Vaseline as well.
- Rub a small amount of vegetable oil or olive oil on your hands before handling peppers or once the burning sensation begins.
- Exercise caution to prevent excessive oiliness, which could lead to slippery hands and potential knife accidents. Be mindful when touching others, particularly infants, after handling chili oil to avoid transferring it to them.
- Lightly coat your hands with oil to prevent burning initially. Oil can also help alleviate burns after contact with peppers. Dip your hands in a bowl of olive or vegetable oil.
Soothe irritated eyes caused by chili peppers. Occasionally, individuals inadvertently rub their eyes while handling chili peppers, resulting in a painful burning sensation.
- Avoid this situation altogether, but if it occurs, soothing the eye area with milk can provide relief.
- Dip a makeup remover pad or paper towel into a small bowl of milk, then gently apply it around the eye area, similar to a compress.
- Repeated application may be necessary as pepper oil-induced burning can persist. If the burning sensation persists or affects vision, seek medical attention.
- If the burning continues, fashion an eye sling using cotton balls or paper towels and wear it for a few hours. Secure it with a butterfly clip and gauze.
Soothing the Mouth After Consuming Chili Peppers
Opt for cold dairy products. Instead of water, reach for milk! The fat and oil in dairy items can alleviate the burn by dissolving the capsaicin.
- Grab a glass of whole milk and consume it entirely. Ensure you rinse your mouth thoroughly beforehand. Alternatively, you can opt for full-fat sour cream or yogurt.
- Milk acts like a soap, dissolving capsaicin and reducing the burning sensation in your mouth. Casein, a protein found in milk, acts as a detergent against capsaicin. The burning sensation in chili peppers stems from capsaicinoids, a group of molecules.
- Ice cream is also effective. Any dairy-containing product may help alleviate the burning sensation. Coconut milk is particularly effective in soothing the burn and moderating the spiciness of a dish.
Avoid using water to soothe your mouth. Surprisingly, drinking water won't alleviate the heat. In fact, it may spread the capsaicin around your mouth, exacerbating the burning sensation.
- Soda, primarily composed of water, is ineffective. Drinking coffee can worsen the sensation due to its heat. Capsaicin possesses oil-like properties, repelling water.
- The burning sensation in your mouth from chili peppers typically doesn't last as long as it does on your hands. It occurs when capsaicin binds with the mouth's pain receptors through a chemical reaction.
- Nerve cells detect temperatures above 108 degrees Fahrenheit in your mouth, to which capsaicin tricks neurons into reacting.
Try consuming alcohol. Beer, being mostly water, isn't as effective, but stronger alcohols can alleviate the burning sensation in your mouth.
- Take a few sips of vodka. Besides relieving the burning sensation, it may induce a relaxed state as long as you consume it in moderation!
- Alcohol can also alleviate the burning sensation caused by touching chili peppers. Various spirits can be effective.
- Always exercise caution when consuming alcohol. Avoid excessive drinking, underage drinking, and drinking and driving.
Utilize other oils to alleviate the burn. Ingesting olive oil or vegetable oil can cool the burning sensation in your mouth by coating your tongue.
- These oils or peanut butter, being high in fat and oil content, serve as effective natural remedies.
- The fat and oil in these substances counteract the heat from chili peppers, relieving the burning sensation.
- It may seem counterintuitive, but combating chili oil with other oils is more effective than guzzling water, which is why vegetable or olive oil is preferred.
Consume starches. If your mouth is burning from consuming chili peppers, opt for starches for relief.
- While starches like rice and bread may not dissolve capsaicin as effectively as fats, oils, or alcohol, they can help alleviate the burn.
- Many cultures serve spicy foods with white rice (or potatoes) for this reason, a common practice in Asian and Indian cuisines.
- Consuming a spoonful of sugar can also diminish the burning sensation. Mix a tablespoon of sugar into a 9-ounce glass of water and gargle with it. Alternatively, place a teaspoon of honey on your tongue.
Explore traditional remedies. Many individuals claim that various vegetables or food items serve as remedies for chili pepper mouth burns.
- Try munching on cucumber, a common method to counter excessive spiciness in Indonesian and Thai cuisine. Consuming a banana may also help alleviate the burn due to its texture and sugar content.
- Indulge in some chocolate. The high fat content in most chocolate bars can help alleviate the burn by removing some of the capsaicin from your mouth. Milk chocolate typically contains more fat and casein than dark chocolate, providing better relief.
- Apply a soft corn tortilla to the affected area (lips, mouth, etc.). Alternatively, try eating a raw carrot. Taking a bite should significantly reduce the burn.
- Utilize white toothpaste to alleviate the burning sensation from habanero oils on the skin. This remedy may also work in the mouth or with other peppers. Consume a lemon wedge, juiced or whole, as the acid aids in breaking down oily substances.
Preventing Chili Pepper Burns
Protect your hands with gloves. When handling hot peppers during cooking, it's essential to wear gloves to avoid experiencing 'hot pepper hands.'
- Your hands may burn and sting, especially if they come into contact with chili oil. Avoid touching your eyes after handling chili oil! Vinyl or latex gloves offer the best protection.
- Thai chilis, serranos, or habaneros can cause similar burns.
- The burning sensation results from the chili oils and capsaicin present in the peppers. Avoid touching your eyes, especially if wearing contact lenses, as it can exacerbate discomfort.
Utilize a sandwich baggie as makeshift gloves. If gloves are unavailable, improvisation is key to protecting your hands.
- Place a plastic sandwich baggie over your hands before handling peppers, securing it to your wrist with a rubber band if necessary.
- If gloves or plastic baggies are unavailable, wrap your hands in paper towels or any material to prevent direct contact with chili oil.
- To safeguard your eyes, wear clear safety glasses, and always thoroughly wash your hands and nails after handling hot peppers.
Embrace the heat. While a burning mouth isn't enjoyable, there's evidence suggesting that consuming chili peppers regularly is beneficial for health.
- Instead of resorting to sugar when feeling sluggish, opt for chili peppers!
- Reducing the burning sensation in your mouth doesn't diminish the metabolic boost from capsaicin in the peppers; it's still likely to occur as liver enzymes break it down.
- Capsaicin can enhance energy and metabolic levels, aiding weight loss and overall well-being.
Insights
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When incorporating ingredients rich in natural sugars (such as grated carrots, sautéed onions, etc.) into a dish with hot peppers, the sugars can help mitigate the spiciness. While the heat remains present, it becomes less dominant, allowing other flavors to shine.
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Ketchup or tomato juice are viable alternatives as well.
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Consuming a few pieces of bread can also help alleviate the spiciness.
Cautions
- Avoid contact with peppers on open wounds.
- Avoid getting peppers in your nose, eyes, or any other orifice, as it can be extremely painful. Pepper spray is derived from chili peppers.
- Capsaicin is challenging to completely remove and may persist even after washing with soap and water. If you wear contact lenses, it's advisable to use gloves when handling peppers.
