How to Get Rid of Chili Burn
If you’ve ever handled fresh or dried chillies, you’ve probably experienced that burning sensation on your fingers and hands at one time or another. That painful, burning feeling comes from the capsaicin in chilies and chili peppers like jalapeños.
You’ve also probably found out that washing your hands in soap and water – however long you do it – didn’t relieve the burn. Here are some tips on how to get rid of chili burn.
How to get rid of chili burn
1) Try dabbing some lemon or lime juice (vinegar will work too) on the affected areas.
Why this works: The acid in lemon/lime juice or vinegar counteracts the alkaline in the chili’s capsaicin. This also explains why you only get chili burn from handling fresh or dried chilies and not chili sauces (because most chili sauces already has some acidic content in it, like lemon juice or vinegar).
2) Rub some oil (e.g. olive oil, coconut oil, etc) over your hands after cutting the chilies. Then wash off with soap and water.
Why this works: Capsaicin is oil-soluble, so rubbing oil over it loosens the compound.
3) Run your hands through your hair. A commenter (AL) shared that running your hands through your hair can work to soothe the burning sensation. Another commenter (Rivrey) has confirmed that this works!
Why this works: The only thing I can think of is that this has something to do with static electricity and a transfer of the positive/negative charge between hair and chili-burned fingers.
How to avoid getting chili burn in the first place
- Wear surgical gloves before handling chilies
Why this works: The waterproof barrier prevents the chili from ever touching your skin. Remember not to touch your eyes or face while wearing the gloves. Throw them away after use.
the hair thing definitely works!
Had horrible experience after handling chillies. Tried all the recommended remedies n nothing worked. My hands felt as tho they were burning. No amount of ice or water or nail plush removal etc did any good.
I even tried the lemon juice. Tried rubbing sandal wood powder as suggested in olden Indian Aayurveda.
Finally this is what worked for me. And believe me it worked like magic —
I rubbed a creme which had urea n lactic acid on my hands. Over it I rubbed common table salt. I applied a little bit of water to moisten the salt.
I rubbed my hands together gently ( as the extreme burning sensation was still there)
Left it to dry a bit and then dipped my hands in a plate with cold water.
This has worked like magic. Plz try this.
The creme I used was actually a creme meant for cracked heels called Compeed
We may try yogurt or dahi as it has lactic acid in it.
Oh that’s interesting. Thanks for sharing, Manisha
p.s: Fyi, the ingredients list for the cream that Manisha used (Compeed) looks like Aqua, Urea, Lactic Acid, EthylHexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitol, Ceteareth-25, Ceteareth-6, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Parfum.
my fiend rub chilli on my nose while asleep now cant get rid of burning sensation…….. HHHHHEEEELLLLP