If you accidentally get chili on your hands, you may experience a burning sensation and discomfort in the affected area. This is due to the presence of capsaicin in chili peppers, which can cause an immediate irritating feeling when it comes into contact with your skin.
Here are some commonly used methods to soothe the burning sensation caused by chili peppers:
## Methods to Soothe the Burning Sensation:
**Use alcohol or beer:** Wash your hands and then apply alcohol or beer to the affected areas multiple times. The symptoms should subside as capsaicin dissolves quickly in the alcohol present in these beverages.
*Note: Avoid getting alcohol in your eyes as it can cause irritation.*
**Use vinegar:** Vinegar has acidic properties, while chili is alkaline. Therefore, when you feel a burning sensation after handling chilies, pour vinegar over your hands and rub it in several times. Vinegar can help neutralize the pH, reducing the irritation.
**Use toothpaste:** If your hands feel burnt from chili exposure, try applying toothpaste to the affected areas and leaving it on for a few minutes. The menthol in toothpaste provides a cooling effect and helps alleviate the burning sensation and pain.
You can rinse your hands with clean water and reapply toothpaste if the burning sensation persists.
**Use tea:** Rinse your hands with tea and then rub the tea leaves on the affected areas. The discomfort should improve after repeating this process for a few minutes.
**Wash your hands with warm water:** Using warm water to wash your hands can help reduce the uncomfortable feeling caused by chili exposure. However, be cautious of the water temperature to avoid scalding your skin.
*Avoid using cold water as capsaicin does not dissolve in it.*
**Use dry flour:** After cutting chilies, if your hands come into contact with the chili residue, rub your hands with dry flour for a few minutes, and then rinse with clean water. This should help alleviate the burning sensation and discomfort.
**Wear gloves when handling chilies:** To prevent chili burn on your hands, it is advisable to wear gloves or apply cooking oil to your hands before handling chilies. If you accidentally get chili in your eyes, blink continuously in a bowl of clean water, or use fresh tea leaves to reduce the irritation and discomfort.