Jalapeño burning your hands, eyes or ... whatever else? Allow me to show you how to get jalapeño off your hands as we enter pepper season. Because even though you should wear gloves when you slice hot peppers - you probably don't do that.
I'm worried that you got to this post because you dipped your hands into jalapeno juice and are now running screaming around your kitchen so I'm getting to the important information immediately.
How to Treat a Hot Pepper Burn
Hot peppers contain Capsaicin, a natural oil. So in order to get rid of the pain, you have the neutralize the alkaline oil.
The best way to do that is with something acidic. You cannot wash away a hot pepper burn with soap and water.
- Douse or soak the area in milk.
- Spread butter or yogurt on the burning area.
- Wash your hands with olive oil until the pain goes away and then wash your hands with soap and water.
- Dip your hands into a solution of 1 part bleach and 4 parts water. Don't soak your hands in the bleach solution, just dip them in and take them out. Wash your hands immediately afterwards.
Use whatever method will work best with where your burn is. I think dairy products work the best but use what you have. If you don't have olive oil you can substitute with vegetable oil.
** ONLY use the milk method if the pepper burn is in your eyes.
I use the milk method all the time.
Here's the thing about me; I injure myself at least 3 times a week. I cut myself, burn myself and just generally maim myself. It's not because I'm particularly clumsy or careless ... I just do a lot. Most of the time I just ignore these injuries and know they'll go away in a few days.
But sometimes I need the pain to go away IMMEDIATELY. Like that time I suffered a chili con carne injury that I couldn't ignore. Nor could anyone who looked at me.
When you have a finger full of hot pepper juice you should avoid touching your eye.
I just soaked a pad in milk and wore it like an eye patch.
So if you get a pepper burn anywhere on your body, including your eyes, your fingers, your mouth, your ... um ... private parts ... the very best thing you can do is soak it in milk or spread yogurt on it.
I left my eye sling on for 20 minutes total and I replaced the cotton pad with a freshly soaked pad every 5 minutes or so. You should feel instant relief from the milk, but as the burn starts to come back, replace with new, cold milk.
Now if you'll excuse me I have a mystery scab that needs to be tended to.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Tricia Rose
Suddenly restaurant eating makes SO much sense...
Did you do something nice for yourself after that Karen, just some little treat to kiss it better? Brandy maybe?
Karen
Tricia - Meh. I just soldiered on with my day. I injure myself so often, if I treated myself with a brandy every time I'd be in Betty Ford. ~ karen
Patty
Funny (?) you posted this as I just splashed a drop (I think) of gasoline in my eye when I was filling my lawn mower yesterday. I thought oh,crap, I don't have time for this, but went inside and held a cup of water against my open eye. It felt like just 1 drop had gotten in and I don't know how it got around my glasses, but it never burned, I lost interest in spending any more time in my medical care and I can still see today. I hope you are doing fine also and that your chili was delish!
inki
Dear Karen I do love your stories....
I remember not washing my hands after a chilly cookout and later going to the bathroom to use a tampon!!!!!!!
Wont forget that night. But I sure get a laugh out of folks when I tell that story ;-)
Love from Faraway....
Pat
Cut up hot peppers in the a.m. to start a dish I was making. Took out contact lenses in evening. That stuff was still on my fingers and I probably washed my hands numerous times through the course of the day. I know your pain ....
Kate S.
I'm really curious as to whether your fella saw this fashion statement? If this had happened to me, I would have rigged up a similarly ridiculous makeshift bandage and about the time I had it looking particularly rakish, my husband would suddenly appear. My life is a litany of my husband's befuddled facial expressions . . . more's the pity.
Karen
Kate S. - No, he wasn't home at the time, so I took a quick iPhone picture and sent it to him with the caption "More on this and other top stories, later ... "
Arlene
okay now -- let's take a look at the "after" pic ~~ any residual effects -- xray vision perhaps :)
Pixieskulls
My mom always said that if you get chili in your eye you should eat a 1/2 teaspoon of salt. We're hispanic, do I'm sure that we've had this remedy handed down generation to generation.
Nancy Blue Moon
Wow..don't know if I can sleep tonight after seeing that picture..lol..Hope your burn is all gone girl..
Kim
I'm with you on the "no chilly, no chili" rule. Although if we get a freak, below 50 night in the Illinois late summer, I do find myself wanting to make it.
Gayla T
Karen, Karen, Karen! You may as well just pack it in now cause I can tell you that the rest of your life is going to be more of the same since you are in that same groove I've been in all these years. It's that creative gene and it gets us every time. Oh, and please don't encourage Mary with the grinder. One step up they call it a wood chipper and she could run her mother-in-law through that. As a MIL myself, although an much adored one, I have step in here in behalf of all MILs in the world. Now, as a mother, I have to say, "You better stop that before your face freezes and you look like that forever. Now, you can see how much good I do in the world and why my DILs love me so much. Love Cindy
Abbey T
There are also enzymes found in milk that bind especially to capsaicin when not much else does, and it sweeps the capsaicin molecules away with the milk. =)
At least... that's what I learned from Food Detectives!
Tracie
Thanks Karen, I am really looking forward to your recipe. Mine isn't bad but ends up with that kind of pre-packaged taste. It does sound like a lot of stuff goes in, but I am more than willing to take the plunge! Love chili! I have even been known to make a pot or two in the heat of summer....yum!
Tracie
Too funny! I wonder if your recipe for chili is around anywhere....I make a pretty good chili most of the time, but I always rely on the packaged chili-o spice. I doubt you do that, but then again, you do buy the seasoned nuts.....:)
Karen
Tracie - No, my chili recipe isn't up on the site yet. One day. I didn't even know they sold chili-o spice! U use oregano, pepper, salt, cumin, chili powder (only the dark kind ... hard to find), a hot pepper (clearly) and a few other things. Tobasco, red pepper flakes .... bay leaf. A bunch of junk goes in it. ~ karen
Shirley
That tiny milk "tear" on your cheek was the piece de resistance of your sad picture. Now I'm not calling you a clown, but is that Pagliacci I hear playing in the background?
Lucy
NOW you tell me. A couple of decades ago I had the worst night of my life after making salsa with HOT New Mexico Green Chiles with my bare hands. Was up all night with both hands soaking in ice water, which only helped til I either took them out or the water cooled. Also tried baking soda to no avail - thinking that would help. I remember watching Mongolian Throat singing on some cable channel at 4 AM...at least I was on vacation but it was NO FUN.
Sarah A.
Hope you are feeling better, Karen!
It makes me feel better to hear that you also get hurt but don't let that stop you from getting stuff done. I also often am working around the house covered in a strange arrangement of gauze!
Lisa
eye drops, like visine, are also mildly acidic. You can also use a diluted vinegar solution to wash your hands. Pour 50/50 vinegar and water into a bowl and soak your hands for a minute.
I grow jalapenos and cayenne peppers, and when I freeze/can them in the fall, I DO wear the hospital-style non-latex gloves that you can buy at the drugstore!
Melissa
One word: goggles. Get yourself a pair of goggles - not only because they're essential to swimming laps, but because they can do dual purpose for rinsing eyes. Or install one those eye washing sinks you find in chemistry labs.
Karen
Melissa - I actually own a few pair of onion goggles. I'm going to be honest with you. If my eye itched, I'd just pull up the goggle and itch it. I know I would. ~ karen
Sara
LOVE your site! found it during the homies 2012. a-mazingness! wish i knew about the above pepper burn remedy two weeks ago when i diced chillies, for the first time ever, and without gloves! my fingers were slightly cracked and the chillies seeped into those cracks... my poor fingertips burned for a LONG time! never doing that again!
Karena
Karen you are too much! I hear Wendy's has good Chili!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
The 2012 Artist Series
Codi
I love you (not in a stalker way), and I love your blog (in a stalker way), but this is the first time I've seen your facts be a little off. Milk? Only slightly acidic. It's the FAT in milk that helps. I'd assume whole milk would work better than skim for your eye injury, or even better heavy cream - plus I think you'd get a better crust for the cats that way ;-)
Karen
Codi - Sorry bout that. I'm not sure where you think my facts are off, but ... sorry. ~ k
Tee
New reader and I am loving it already and pinning your info, too. as for the acid or base argument, Codi is actually right. Reference cited: http://chemistry.about.com/b/2011/06/03/is-milk-an-acid-or-a-base.htm