OK, I didn't know any better, so try not to laugh too much. I decided to try and make salsa with our tomatoes, and my father gave me some jalopeno peppers that he got from someone that he works with. I chopped them up and apparently the juice soaked into my hands and I was miserable for about 6 hours......it felt like my hands were on fire. I was having chills all over my body and felt like I was going to vomit. Went to bed and they were better the next morning......the problem is, it's still in my skin because I can't put in my contact lenses without feeling like my eyes are being burned out of my head with a hot poker.....and if I forget and accidentally lick my finger or bite my fingernail, well then my tongue is on fire for a good 10 minutes.

I've tried washing them in every soap imaginable, soaking them in baking soda/water, what else can I try?

Please help, Thanks, Tracey

-- Tracey (trjlanier@cs.com), July 31, 2001

Answers

Ouch!

here's some suggestions: I've always worn rubber surgical gloves when messing with hot peppers - and they remind you not to touch your face.

• rubbing alcohol [isopropyl] - works for poison ivy, if used immediately after exposure.
• waterless hand cleaner - purell; this works surprising well for gasoline.
• 'automotive hand cleaner' - gojo is one. this gets off some amazing variety of stuff.
• witch hazel has been wonderful on odd stuff too.
• and the old standy by vinegar.
• bleach mixed 50/50 with water.

wash with hot water and soap after each!

lettuce know which works best.

good luck!

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), July 31, 2001.

Hi Tracey,

I can't say for certain that this works but try soaking your hands in a bowl of cold milk. I've always been told that if you eat a hot pepper and want to wash away the "hotness" in your mouth to use milk instead of water because the peppers contain an oil. Water just disperses the oil while the milk actually neutralizes the oils. Hope this helps.

-- Trevilians (Trevilians@mediaone.net), July 31, 2001.

straight vinegar is commonly used as an antidote for pepper spray so it'd probably work good for that.

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 31, 2001.

Good old WD-40. Spray on, rub hands like you're washing them, then wash and rinse. I know, WD-40 probably isn't good for you, but it's not there very long. And I know how painful the peppered hands and eyes can be.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), July 31, 2001.

At work, we use baby shampoo as the antidote to pepper spray. Coat the skin with it and then rinse, and rinse, and rinse...

I pulled the same dumb trick, Tracey; so don't feel too lonely out there!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), July 31, 2001.

I have done this repeatedly and the best solution I"ve ever used is Isopropyl alcohol, repeated washing with this and soap and water. The irritant in hot peppers is capsaicin, an oil-based compound, and the alcohol cuts the oil, then you wash it off with soap and water. Even after you think you've gotten it all off still don't rub your eyes, etc. A good way to tell if you've gotten most of it off is to put a finger on your tongue, and if your tongue starts to burn you need to use alcohol and wash again.

-- HannahMariaHolly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), July 31, 2001.

I never seem to remember to pick up that box of surgical gloves at the store, but i love to cook w/ the spicy peppers. After too, learning the hard way that the oils soak into callouses, I now put a twist of tin Foil on my 'pointer' finger & thumb. This sees me safely thru choping & seeding of a few peppers for the meal. Tearless baby shampoo? cool, I'll tell the local 911, they told me only water,& not to use soap because it would act as a 'spreader'of the oil & would further irritate my eyes. I used pumice block to remove my hoe callouses that had soaked up the oil & kept giving me nasty surprises!

-- bj pepper (pepper.pepper@excite.com), July 31, 2001.

I use white sugar and cold running water, in mouth and on hands. This is very helpful with children who get pepper juice on them.

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), July 31, 2001.

I'd agree with milk - several changes - just enough each time to wet your hands (say half a cup), then rub them together thoroughly to make sure the chili has the maximum chnce to find it's way into the milk, then rinse, then repeat and repeat and .... When that's done, I'd try the same trick with about a serving-spoon of butter (not margarine) each time, washing after each.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 31, 2001.

Try using oil, canola, olive, whatever is available. Gently rub it on the affected area to dilute to the oil from the pepper, then wash with soap. Repeat several times if needed. This has worked very well for me on several occasions.

-- Lynn (lynnannmb@hotmail.com), August 01, 2001.

Don't feel too stupid....every single time I cook with hot peppers, I forget and either rub my eyes or nose with my hands. How dumb do you have to get? I always rinse with milk after this....can't put alcohol or WD 40 in your eyes.

-- marcee king (thathope@mwt.net), August 03, 2001.

Again, you are not the only one. I was grinding some dried ones. They were so hot that one jar lasts forever! (So to speak)

Any way I was careful of my hands and wore a mask for the dusst. But the dust seettled over my cheeks and the bridge of my nose. Wow did that hurt! I started to try some water but it burned like...well... never mind. And I was worried about carrying to the eyes. I knew alcohol of some sort would break it up, but to close to the eyes. Oils of any kind help to disipate (SP?) (lift it up and dilute it) Any way, So I ended up dabbing margerine across the area GENTLY! And it really helped! Of course I wasn't licking my face or putting my nose in my eye but at least I didn't feel like i was in a pot of boiling water any more!

-- Novina (lamb@stellarnet.com), August 06, 2001.

I dunno but drinking milk or eating potatos always cools down my throat when I eat something hot. How about making some mashed potatoes and use milk instead of water and wahing your hands with the mashed potatoes I dunno don't blame me if it doesn't work I'm only 13....

-- Stina pepper canada (im_not_guilty@hotmail.com), August 26, 2001.

Sorry I am laughing , hubby did the same thing then went to the bathroom to pee .I swear you could hear him yelling for miles , hehe.I don't have a good answer sorry .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), August 27, 2001.