Hot peppers, such as jalapeño, cayenne and habanero, contain capsaicin, which is the chemical compound responsible for their spiciness, the main ingredient in pepper sprays used as a personal defense. Capsaicin can add flavor and spiciness to food, but it can also be very irritating when it comes into contact with the delicate skin of your hands, lips or palate. There are several methods to quickly soothe the burning caused by capsaicin, continue reading to know the most used ones.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Relieve the Burning of the Palate
Step 1. Eat a cold dairy product
Instead of drinking water, try milk. Since capsaicin is fat-soluble, the fats and oils contained in dairy products will dissolve it, while decreasing the burning.
- Drink a glass or cup of whole milk. Before doing this, make sure you rinse your mouth completely. If you don't like milk, you can opt for another dairy product, such as sour cream or yogurt, as long as it hasn't been stripped of its natural fat content.
- The milk, in this case, acts as a cleanser capable of dissolving capsaicin, consequently reducing the burning sensation perceived by the tongue and palate. The main protein in dairy products, casein, is capable of acting as a solvent for capsaicin.
- Ice cream can also be of great help. Any milk-based product can help you soothe the burning sensation felt after eating a very spicy food. Even coconut milk, thanks to its high percentage of fat, is able to alleviate the spicy perception and burning resulting from having eaten a very spicy recipe.
Step 2. Avoid drinking water to cool your mouth
Believe it or not, it won't get rid of the sting. In fact, it will only spread the capsaicin in the mouth making it worse.
- Fizzy drinks are made largely of water and are therefore useless. Drinking coffee makes burning worse due to the heat in the coffee. Capsaicin acts like oil, which is the reason it repels water.
- The burning sensation in the mouth does not last as long as it does in the hands. The cause lies in the chemical reaction that occurs in the mouth when capsaicin binds to pain receptors.
- Nerve cells sense when the temperature in your mouth exceeds 42 ° C; capsaicin practically tricks neurons, causing them to react.
Step 3. Drink an alcoholic drink
Beer is not very useful in this case, precisely because it is composed largely of water, but some products with a high alcohol content are able to eliminate the burning sensation that affects the oral cavity.
- Sip some vodka. In addition to reducing the burning sensation, it is very likely that it will make you feel calmer and more relaxed, as long as you don't overdo the quantities!
- Alcohol relieves the burning sensation even when you touch the chillies. There is a large variety of shades that are fine.
- Always proceed with caution when drinking. Don't drink too much, don't drink unless you are of the appropriate age, and don't drive while intoxicated.
Step 4. Use other types of oil to relieve burning
Ingesting olive oil or a vegetable oil helps reduce the burning in the mouth by creating a protective layer on the tongue.
- These types of oil or even peanut butter are high in oils and fats, so they are a great choice as a natural remedy.
- The fat and oil contained in these ingredients disintegrate the heat in the chili, relieving the burning sensation you feel.
- It might seem counterproductive, but it is necessary to fight chili oil with other types of oil, which is why gulping down water is not as effective as vegetable or olive oil.
Step 5. Eat a starchy product
If your mouth is on fire from accidentally ingesting a hot pepper, eat a product that contains starch. It should be able to give you some relief.
- Even though starchy foods, such as rice and bread, are unable to effectively dissolve capsaicin like fats, oils or spirits, they are still able to soothe the burn.
- This is the reason why many cultures use to accompany their hot and spicy preparations with abundant boiled rice.
- Sugar can also help you slightly soothe the burning sensation caused by hot peppers. Melt a tablespoon in a glass of water, then use the resulting mixture to gargle. Alternatively, pour a teaspoon of pure honey directly onto your tongue.
Step 6. Try some folk remedies
Many people claim that the following vegetables and starchy products are excellent natural remedies for the sting caused by hot peppers.
- Eat a cucumber. It is a widely used remedy in Indonesia and Thailand to counteract the high spiciness of local food. Alternatively, the texture and sweetness of the banana can also help you counter the burning sensation.
- Eat some chocolate. The high fat content of most commercial chocolate bars can help you remove some of the capsaicin in your mouth. Milk chocolate normally has a higher fat and casein content than dark chocolate, which is why it should prove to be a more effective remedy at this juncture.
- Touch the painful area (lips, tongue, palate, etc.) with a soft tortilla made of corn. You can also try eating a raw carrot, even just a small bite should reduce the burning considerably.
- Common white toothpaste can significantly reduce skin burning caused by the essential oils of habanero peppers. It is very likely that it is also an excellent remedy for the entire oral cavity and for other varieties of hot peppers. If you prefer, eat a lemon wedge or drink its natural juice, the acid of this citrus can also remove the essential oils of the peppers.
Method 2 of 3: Get Rid of Burning Hands
Step 1. Use dish soap
Generally, you would tend to use ordinary hand soap, but dish soap is much more effective at removing essential oils from chilli.
- Some say it may also be helpful to periodically dip your fingers in a bleach and water solution (in a 5: 1 ratio) while preparing chillies.
- By reacting with capsaicin, bleach transforms it into a water-soluble salt. At the end of the preparation, you will then be able to rinse it off using plain water.
- Make sure the bleach doesn't come into contact with the peppers, and wash your hands with dish soap only after you've finished cutting them.
Step 2. Use alcohol
The essential oils of chillies and capsaicin, the two main elements that cause skin irritation and the burning sensation, are soluble in alcohol.
- Sprinkle isopropyl alcohol on your hands. Even if you intend to use one of the other methods of relieving burning hands, try rubbing them with isopropyl alcohol first.
- Open the bar door or alcohol cabinet, then choose a product that has a high alcohol content, such as vodka. Use it to scrub your hands and remove irritating chili oils.
- Another option is to make a baking soda and water based paste. Apply it to your hands, then wait for it to dry, then rinse it off.
Step 3. Dip your hands in the milk
The milk should be cold, so add some ice cubes to the bowl you poured the liquid into. You can also dip your hands in plain ice water if you wish, but it won't be as effective.
- Some argue that the burning sensation caused by hot peppers can be very painful and last up to a couple of hours. It is therefore quite understandable to want to find an immediate remedy to alleviate this suffering.
- Try pouring a little flour into the bowl with the milk to create a kind of batter that can wrap your hands like a glove. Let it sit for several minutes before rinsing off.
- Before dipping your hands in cold water or milk, scrub them with isopropyl alcohol. As already mentioned, it is better to prefer milk to water, preferably with the addition of some ice cubes.
Step 4. Grease your hands with the oil
Both chili essential oils and capsaicin are fat-soluble, so you can relieve the pain they cause by using different varieties of oil. If you wish, you can also try using petroleum jelly.
- Before cutting the peppers, rub your hands with a small amount of seed or olive oil.
- Do not use too much of it, as it is a lubricant it will prevent you from holding the knife safely, increasing the chances of it slipping out of your hands.
- Coating your hands with a light film of oil is a great way to protect them from the essential oils and capsaicin contained in chillies. This same remedy is also useful for relieving the burning if you have already touched the peppers with your bare hands. Dip them into a bowl that you've poured olive oil or another variety of vegetable oil into.
Step 5. Relieves the burning in the eyes
Sometimes you make the big mistake of rubbing your eyes by cutting the chili. This obviously causes a burning sensation right in the eye.
- First of all, it is very important to avoid doing this. However, if you do, bathing the area with milk can help.
- Take a paper towel and dip it in a small bowl with milk. Then, dab around the eye area, just like you would a compress.
- You may need to repeat the process several times to get enough relief, since the pepper oil will likely burn for some time. If the burning sensation does not go away or if it causes discomfort to your vision, see a doctor.
- If the burning persists, you could improvise some sort of bandage with cotton balls or paper towels, and wear it for a few hours. Use a clip and gauze.
Method 3 of 3: Preventing the Burn Caused by Chili Peppers
Step 1. Use a pair of gloves
If you plan to cook a spicy dish made from fresh chili without wearing them, you risk ending up with sore hands.
- The skin on the hands will soon start to burn and itch. Remember that after coming into contact with the essential oils of chili pepper with your bare hands, you should definitely not touch your eyes. The best solution to avoid this unpleasant situation is to wear latex or vinyl gloves.
- This painful effect is frequently triggered by coming into contact with the varieties of Thai Pepper (also known as Thai Dragon), serrano or habanero: the most used to prepare spicy sauces or fried after being sliced by hand.
- The burning sensation is triggered by the essential oils of the chili that contain capsaicin. The situation could worsen considerably if you accidentally touch your eyes while wearing contact lenses. In this case the burning and pain could become unbearable.
Step 2. Use common food bags as a replacement for gloves
Don't you have any kind of protective gloves at home? In this case the best solution is to make a couple of luck with the objects you have available to avoid handling the peppers with your bare hands.
- Before you start cutting the peppers, protect your hands by using plastic food bags (the ones you normally use to store food in the freezer). It may be very helpful to attach them to your wrists using rubber bands.
- If you don't have gloves or plastic bags, wrap your hands in paper towels - anything to avoid skin contact with the chili.
- Wear eye protection and always wash your hands thoroughly when touching the chili.
Step 3. Bear the burning sensation
It is certainly not a pleasant thing to have your mouth on fire, but there are several studies that state that eating chili pepper regularly is beneficial for health.
- When you feel sluggish and not very energetic, instead of resorting to sugar intake, try to rely on the properties of chili.
- While adopting a remedy for the burning that you feel in your mouth, the acceleration of the metabolism induced by capsaicin will remain in place until the enzymes contained in the liver break it down into its basic elements.
- Capsaicin is able to increase both the energy level and the metabolism by stimulating weight loss and increasing the level of general health.
Advice
- Drinking plain water may not be enough to relieve the burning sensation and subsequent pain. In addition, it could contribute to the spread of capsaicin throughout the oral cavity, making the situation worse.
- Eat some crackers, then drink some sugar water. Normally, crackers are able to absorb both the water and essential oils of the chillies, helping you to relieve the feeling of discomfort.
- Ketchup and tomato sauce are another good option.
- You can try to eat some bread.
- To protect your eyes, wear clean safety goggles and remember to wash your hands and nail bed thoroughly right after you're done.
- In any case, with the simple passage of time, the burning sensation will pass by itself.
- If your spicy recipe also includes ingredients with a high content of natural sugars (such as carrots, fried onions, etc.), the latter will tend to cover the spicy component, which will remain present, but it will not be the predominant flavor avoiding to overpower the other flavors.
- The best option available to you is to use plain milk. Before swallowing, hold it in your mouth for a few seconds.
Warnings
- After handling hot peppers, be very careful not to touch your eyes. Capsaicin is a very difficult substance to remove from the skin with simple soap and water. If you wear contact lenses, it is preferable to use protective gloves when handling hot peppers.
- If you have any cuts or open wounds, protect them carefully from hot peppers.
- Make sure the peppers cannot come into contact with the most sensitive parts of the body, such as eyes, nostrils, lips, mouth or any other cavity, it would be a very painful experience. The main ingredient of pepper sprays used for personal defense is capsaicin. If you know the sensation they cause, you know what the consequences of careless handling of chili peppers can be.
