are there any long term effects when hot eppers make contact with your skin, i.e. jalepenos or crushed peppers

Question

I accidently made contact with some jalepenos after cooking one night and then went to the bathroom, WoW! are there any health issues with this, besides the major burning sensation

Answer 1

I don't think there are any long term effects. Next time rinse your hands immediately afterwards with lemon juice or vinegar. The burning will stop almost instantly and the pepper juices should neutralize.
If you are still having problems, I would check with the Dr. to be sure.

Answer 2

While peppers can affect a person's skin, every body, is of course, different. Think of all the cultures, restaraunts, farmers, and everyone who handles peppers on a regular basis; if there were long term effects, peppers would be eradicated. Getting any type of pepper juice in your eyes, however, is another issue. Most peppers contain capsazin, an enzyme, which naturally acts as an irritant. When someone gets "maced" or otherwise gets cayenne or other pepper spray in their eyes, the instinct is to rub, which can cause damage, given the fluids and sensitivity of the eyeballs themselves. It is best to flush with cold water, whether on the skin or in the eyes, and remember not to rub. It also sounds as if you touched a "sensitive" area where there are membranes attuned to sensations, so I imagine the feeling was heightened. Again, really no danger, just be certain to wash your hands after handling any type of peppers.