my skin is burning from cutting a jalapeno for dinner last night. what Do I do?

Question

I've tried washing it, scrubing it, cleansing it... the burning is on my thumb only where I was holding the inside of the jalapeno... please help.

Answer 1

The capsaicin (the chemical that burns so much in peppers) has probably soaked into your skin a bit and it will have to wear off, but you can try using any type of oil on your hands. The chemical is soluble in oils and not in water, so it won't wash off. Try hand lotion, or believe it or not, sour cream or milk are good at this as well.

Answer 2

I have this problem all of the time. Using an antibacterial soap, with lemon usually seems to help instantly (lemon dish detergent). Rubbing it with a piece of sliced tomato helps also, I think it has something do with the acidity (this really works well, we eat tomatoes with almost everything, so as I dice the Jalapeno, I make sure I crush tomatoes immediately afterward with my hands).

I have heard that if you freeze the Jalapeno before you cut it, it will not burn your hands so badly. Lotion with aloe works well too, but try not to use lotion with Vaseline or petroleum jelly because it seems to lock the jalapeno juice into your skin.

Good luck, and don't touch your eyes!!!

Answer 3

Soak a cotton ball in milk and apply it to your thumb. It may not take all the sting away, but it will lessen it until it goes away on its own. Milk neutralizes the chemical in peppers that makes them hot. If you ever bite into a hot pepper, or just eat something too spicy-hot that burns your mouth, drink milk. Water only makes it worse. Hope you feel better!

Answer 4

Try using lemon juice, and or milk, dairy products are known for cutting the burn of a hot pepper quicker than anything I know of.

Answer 5

Dairy products are supposed to neutralize spicy foods...don't know if this will work, try putting some plain yogurt or some such thing on it. Can't hurt anyway.

Answer 6

rub your fingers around in some coffee grounds, and if you have a stainless steel sink put some dish soap on the stainless, and rub your fingers around on it (gives you a good chance to clean the sink, too), then use a cloth and wash up.

Answer 7

There are two things you can do that work for me...
1) Put some windex on it jk
2) Put Low Fat Key Lime yogurt from Barts SuperCarGarage.... (I dunno where you live though so you might not have that store) On the burn part.

Answer 8

try saoking it in milk!that should ease the burn cause they say whenever you get a burn from a pepper like that you should always saok it in milk weather its burning in your eyes or fingers!

Answer 9

Pour cooking oil on your hands and work it around, then wash with a hand soap, that should do it.

Answer 10

Try washing with alcohol, which will also dissolve the capsicum.