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.
this happened to me and i tried all sorts the thing i found most affective was rubbing bio yorgurt and letting it soak in…worked a treat
Vinegar works too if there’re no lemons. I dab apple cider on my affected arears and have it soaked for a while. But don’t use soap anytime soon, it makes the burn a hell lot worse.
i did a combo salt rub dip in milk then olive oil n cider vinegar now waiting for my sister bring the sour cream depends on the chilie but these will work instantly if not the heat will be mild till go away keep working the treatment gona get sum vodka see if that works if not drink it at least u be too drunk too care.lol
The lemon and oil only work slightly but
Worth it cause chilli burns so bad
Try vicks vapor rub. I tried everything didnt work. finally tried vicks, was able to sleep very well.
Thanks for sharing that tip Jen. I’ll add it to the main article.
Did the lime thing, then used a Hemp Hand Protector for dry skin from Body Shop and 95% of the burning was gone.
Interesting… thanks for sharing Rasif!
Apparently, Vicks Vapour Rub makes it sting like HELL!
vicks makes it far worse!!! do not use it, please!
really hot water works well, doesnt go completly but the majority has calmed doen!
thanks to olive oil for cooling my burning stomach
tried lime juice, then vinegar but didn’t work. The olive oil did though – thanks!
I tried salt which worked a bit but seemed to spread it around?? Then milk, which soothed it while the milk was in contact, then lime juice which helped a lot, and finally olive oil (last three all on cotton balls) and relief at last!