How to neutralize hot peppers on your skin

Red hot peppers are rich in caustic essential oils, so if you cut them incorrectly, touch them with bare hands, or taste the pod, you can get a real burn.

Photo 1. A small hot pepper can cause a real fire in your mouth. Source: Flickr (Marco Verch).

Why does pepper burn?

Red hot pepper seeds, veins and skin contain large amounts of capsaicin is an oily substance that causes burning, redness on the skin, swelling, etc. It is this that gives the pepper its spicy taste, but it can also cause a chemical burn.

In addition, capsaicin is dangerous because it can cause allergic reactions even when simply touching the pepper with bare hands. AND If such a substance enters the body, it takes a long time to be eliminated.

Symptoms can be relieved, but complete recovery will not occur until the capsaicin is released. And this usually takes several days.

Signs of pepper burn

Symptoms appear on the area of ​​skin that came into contact with pepper. And includes typical signs of a burn: the skin itches, turns red, and feels burning.

However, a burn can affect different layers of the dermis, in which case the signs will differ depending on the severity of the injury:

1. mild degree – mild symptoms, which consist of mild discomfort;
2. average degree – redness of the skin, itching and peeling, and then a rash resembling hives;
3. severe - the appearance of blisters, ulcers, and sometimes bleeding from the burned area.

Note! Pepper is dangerous not only in fresh form, but also in dry seasoning and in pepper plaster, since in any form it retains capsaicin.

First aid

First aid measures relieve the acute symptoms of a chili pepper burn and reduce the likelihood of complications, but do not treat the injury itself. Therefore, if the burn was severe, after first aid you should consult a doctor to prescribe treatment.

Depending on which part of the body is affected, the method of relieving symptoms will differ. If your skin is burned:

1. recommended rinse damaged area cold waterat least 15 minutes, but you cannot use soap, as this will worsen the situation, because alkali neutralizes only acids, not caustic essential oils;
2. if water has no effect, the burn should be treated with a soda solution with ice, in which the hand is placed for 10 minutes (soda neutralizes capsaicin well);
3. salt can cleanse the skin of pepper that has ingrained itself into it, for which you should pour it onto the damaged area and moisten it a little with water for even distribution (hold for no longer than 5 minutes);
4. after treating with salt, the skin should be washed with milk, since it removes particles of caustic ether;
5. Olive oil also dissolves the pungent substances of pepper and prevents them from penetrating deeper into the skin, so the affected area should be rubbed with it for about a minute, and then rinsed with warm water;
6. weak vinegar essence can stop the burning reaction caused by chili peppers, as can citric acid - they also treat the burn.

If the mucous membrane of the mouth or throat is damaged, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with cold water until the burning sensation goes away, and then drink milk. In this case, by the way, any dairy products will help: yogurt, ice cream, etc.

Photo 2. Milk can eliminate the caustic effects of pepper. Source: Flickr (GummyPiglet)

And since starch dissolves capsaicin, it also helps with pepper burns. In this case, you can eat some pure starch, or potatoes, bread or rice.

Note! Under no circumstances should you touch your eyes, lips, or skin near them with hands that touched the pepper, because the burn on the mucous membranes will be felt even stronger and will cause much more harm.

How to relieve the burning sensation from pepper

Foods and substances that neutralize capsaicin. These include:

1. Bleaching powder, which converts capsaicin into a water-soluble salt. Bleach should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:5 and immerse your hands in this solution, and then rinse well.
2. Alcohol dissolves caustic essential oils, so it makes sense to rub it or any alcohol-containing product (tonic, lotion) on the burn, and then rinse with running water.
3. Vegetable oil neutralizes caustic essential oils of chili peppers. It is used to treat damaged skin to relieve the burning sensation. If the burn is on the mucous membrane, you just need to hold a spoonful of oil in your mouth.
4. It will also help with burning in the mouth and throat. concentrated sugar syrup or a spoonful of honey under the tongue.

At all, capsaicin is a fat-soluble substance, so any of the fat-rich foods may help.

Treatment

On one's own A red pepper burn can only be treated if if the degree of skin damage is mild. In all other cases, you should consult a doctor to exclude the development of complications.

After first aid, wound need to treat with antisepticto prevent infection.

Every day the burn will have to be lubricated with antiseptic ointments - Rescuer, Levomekol or Fastin.

To speed up the process of skin regeneration, the wound surface should be treated with Panthenol (ointment or cream). And this will need to be done at least three times a day, preferably during dressing changes.

After a chemical burn, the skin needs rest, so the wound should be dressed with a clean bandage and the bandage should be changed regularly.

Prevention of pepper burns

To avoid burns when handling red hot peppers, hands must be protected with gloves. A eyes should be covered glasses.

If there are no gloves, they can be replaced with plastic bags placed on your hands. Or, as a last resort, just wrap your brushes in paper towels.

Additional precaution - before working with chili grease your hands with a small amount of vegetable oil.

Hot peppers can cause a strong and unpleasant burning sensation, tears, and sometimes difficulty breathing. Often, this product affects the mouth and hands, the surface of which is completely different, therefore the methods of neutralizing the effect of pepper are also different.

Maria Belochka · June 14, 2014

The content of the article:

Briefly about pepper

Try to handle hot pepper as carefully as possible, because preventing a burn is much easier than dealing with its consequences. Capsaicin is a substance that is part of this spicy vegetable and gives it a burning taste when it comes into contact with the skin in case of contact with the pulp of fresh pepper or in the mouth along with peppered food.

The degree of heat of different types of pepper depends on the amount of capsaicin contained in each of them. The hottest species grow in South America, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean; the mildest hot peppers, such as Italian peperoncini, in Europe. When preparing any food with or harvesting peppers, be extremely careful not to get capsaicin on your skin or eyes. If you suddenly pick up a vegetable with unprotected hands, be sure to wash them with soap.

Do not touch the area around the eyes and lips with the hands used to cut the pepper - the skin here is very sensitive, and the burning sensation will be felt much stronger

Neutralizing the effects of pepper in the mouth

To counteract the burning sensation in your mouth, drink something rich in fat. Capsaicin is a fat-soluble substance, but not water-soluble. Cream, yoghurt or milk are excellent for this purpose. In addition, a cold drink can very well relieve the burning sensation, for example, drink 1-2 glasses of cold milk, since the psychological effect of cooling will be added to the objective effect (dissolution of the burning substance in fat milk).

The following products can help relieve the burning sensation:

When you use them, you will quickly feel relief.

Neutralizing the effects of pepper on your hands

If hot pepper gets on the skin of your hands, rub the affected area with table salt as quickly as possible. At the same time, you can add a few drops of water to the salt to evenly apply the mixture over the entire skin. Leave the mixture on for about 10 minutes, then wash off first with milk and then with soap and water, completing the procedure by applying a moisturizer. If this does not help, soak your hands in a strong alcoholic drink for 5-7 minutes. Salt can cleanse the skin of ingrained pepper, and milk, soap and alcohol can dissolve the remaining particles. You can also temporarily reduce the sensitivity of irritated skin by applying ice to the skin. To neutralize the effect of pepper on your hands, use a folk remedy by applying a small piece of fresh cucumber to the affected area of ​​skin.

You will read about the recipe for making cedar tincture in the next article.

A hot type of pepper, it is quite a popular product in any kitchen, because it gives dishes a special piquancy. But hot peppers can cause the most unpleasant sensations when they come into contact with the skin. Therefore, special care is required when working with them. But there are several proven methods that will help get rid of the consequences of skin contact with pepper.

Why does pepper burn?

Capsaicin is an oily substance found in some varieties of hot peppers; it is this component that gives dishes a special, specific taste. During cooking, pepper juice can get on the skin of your hands, thereby instantly causing a burning sensation and redness, which is very difficult to neutralize.

The amount of this component in all varieties of pepper is different. Thus, the more capsaicin, the stronger the burn from contact with the skin. Some of the most popular hot peppers are chili pepper, red hot pepper, and cayenne pepper.

Pepper heat units

How to remove burning sensation on the skin

If you handle hot pepper carelessly and get it or its juice on the skin, a burn will form. To alleviate the condition of the skin, it is necessary to use traditional methods of getting rid of burning sensation.

1. Dairy products effectively eliminate pain caused by contact with hot peppers. This is explained by the fact that the substance casein, which is found in dairy products, reacts with capsaicin and neutralizes it. If your hand has been burned, then you need to lower it into a container of milk, where it is better to first add ice cubes. Or generously wipe other areas of the body with a cotton swab.
2. An equally effective method would be to use regular petroleum jelly and vegetable oil, since the hot components of pepper dissolve under the influence of other oils.
3. Baking soda must be diluted with water to a thick paste, and the mixture should be applied to the affected areas of the body. After drying, wash off the mask under running water.
4. Alcohol will get rid of the “fire” on the skin; it acts on capsaicin as a solvent. Periodically wipe your face, hands and skin with a moistened cotton swab until discomfort is eliminated.

How to remove a burning sensation in the mouth

If there is an excess of hot pepper in your mouth, and a painful burning sensation persists for a long time, then in this case it is necessary:

1. First of all, eat a small piece of rye or wheat bread, which will absorb the hot oil and relieve the burning sensation in your mouth.
2. Cold fermented milk products do an excellent job of this task: kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, sour cream and even ice cream. Or just rinse your mouth with milk from the refrigerator. This method is able to minimize the effect of the hot component of pepper on mucous areas. The main thing is that the higher the fat content of the product, the more effective the result will be.
3. Alcohol is also a good way to relieve discomfort. It is most effective if it is some kind of wine. One glass is enough.
4. Eating boiled vegetables with a high starch content: potatoes, corn will quickly relieve discomfort in the mouth and esophagus. In addition, boiled rice, banana, and a slice of lemon will also perfectly eliminate discomfort.
5. If the pepper only gets on the tongue, then you need to prepare sugar syrup (3 teaspoons of sugar per 200 ml of water) and rinse your mouth and throat with it for 30 minutes.

What to do if pepper juice gets in your eyes

When preparing dishes with pepper, it often happens that after washing your hands poorly, when rubbing your eyes, the substance capsaicin gets onto the mucous membrane, or the juice accidentally splashes into your eyes, which causes severe pain and burning.

It is very difficult to find special eye drops for such cases in your home medicine cabinet. Therefore, there are several traditional and effective methods to neutralize capsaicin and eliminate unpleasant sensations:

1. It is necessary to steep the tea bag or tea leaves for 5 minutes to ensure a strong solution. Wipe the eye with a generously moistened cotton swab towards the inner corner of the eye.
2. Using the same principle, you can prepare a tincture of chamomile or calendula. Pour into a large bowl so that you can put your head in there; your eye should be immersed in the prepared solution. You must try to open your eye and blink it, and also actively roll your eyeball.
3. The most effective eye wash is cow's or goat's milk. It must be instilled using a special pipette. In this case, the milk should flow back when instilled, thereby washing away the burning substance.
4. Everyone in their home pharmacy probably has a drug such as furatsilin, which is very popular in ophthalmology. To do this, you need to dissolve 1 tablet of furatsilin in cooled boiled water (strain), and rinse the eyes with a sterile pipette, instilling them into the conjunctival sac (or organize an eye bath). It’s even better if it’s injectable furatsilin, which doesn’t need to be diluted with water.
5. After the procedure, it is necessary to instill eye drops that have an anti-inflammatory effect.

How to protect yourself from burning

In cases where you are preparing a dish using hot peppers, you must prepare in advance and place next to you a container with water and bleach in proportions of 5:1. In this solution, when cutting peppers, you should periodically wet your hands and rinse them with water.

In addition, the safest method to protect yourself from getting burned is to use latex gloves or plastic bags while cooking. Or you can wet your hands with vegetable oil, which will neutralize the capsaicin.
Only in this way is there a high probability of avoiding burns on your hands and getting pepper juice on other parts of the body and in the eyes.

To avoid getting burned when working with pepper, you must use safety precautions. And if necessary, immediately use the above traditional remedies to eliminate the symptoms of burning and burns. If pain, discomfort, burning in the eyes and body persists after the procedures, you should definitely contact a medical specialist for specialized care.