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.
If you have chili burn in your mouth or a burning tongue from eating spicy food, try drinking milk, it works… soy milk too
holy cow my mouth hurts thatns for advice
Im doing my science project and this real helps thank you
Dear Jeremiah,
You’re very welcome and good luck on your science project!
Sam
i hade one the other day
thanks so much for this information. i have searched on many other sites and they also give me the same response that lemon/lime juice cures it. This has helped me alot in my science assignment.
None of that works……. Man up and wash & scrub your hands under fairly hot water for a good minute or 2. It burns like crazy but it washes off the chili oil. Almost like a mechanic washes off grease…. I’ve tried everything else like vodka, antacid, milk, yogurt and none of these work, i’ve even tried salt….. Just a hot hand wash with heaps of soap. Painful but effective
didn’t work for me either
I have used aloe vera in chilli burns and it worked…has to be the aloe vera gel or the plant itself…i let it cool in the fridge and rub it on the affected area..it soothes the burn right away
my fingers hurt like hell because of the chili burns. I thought sleeping over the pain will make it go away but it didn’t!
i tried the oil thingy it somehow lessen the burning sensation. but it still hurts. any other way to get rid of the burning sensation? 
I tried all.. And hot water is the best!
milk is actually the best because of the fat and calcium so the best thing to do is drink full cream milk. visit my web site which will be finished soon when it is i will put the address here.