Help! My chili peppers have burned my tongue! or Help! My chili peppers have burned my skin! How do you stop the chili pepper burn?
How to Stop the Chili Pepper Burn
As a spicy food lover, it's bound to happen. You're chopping jalapeno peppers or other hot peppers for your meal and some of it gets on your skin and starts to burn, or you take a bite of your freshly prepared spicy dish and whoa, the spicy heat is just too much.
Honestly, this happens to the best of us. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to alleviate the jalapeno burn or chili pepper burn from your skin and from eating hot peppers.
Stop the Chili Pepper Burn on the Skin
The best way to avoid chili pepper burns on the skin is to wear gloves when handling them, nitrile gloves in particular. The reason hot peppers can burn your skin is because they contain an oily substance called "capsaicin" that sticks to your skin.
Capsaicin is the substance that makes chili peppers "hot" and spicy, so avoiding the oil is the ideal way to go.
However, we often forget to wear gloves or just don't think of it, which can cause burning not only on the hands, but on other sensitive parts of the body that you touch with your hands, particularly your eyes.
Below are several ways you can combat the jalapeno heat or other hot pepper heat on your skin, or "hot pepper hands". Some are my own recommendations, but also some ideas are from spicy food readers who have shared their own personal experiences.
Be sure to read the comments below to learn other ways people have alleviated the heat for themselves.
Dish Soap and Water - Recommended
Dish soaps are meant to help clean oily plates, so they can be effective in washing away the chili oil from your burning skin. If you feel burning on your skin from handling hot peppers, wash them very thoroughly with water and dish soap several times to work the oils off of your skin.
Use Milk (or other Dairy) - Recommended
Dairy products like milk contain the chemical "casein" that combats the effects the capsaicin (the chemical that makes peppers hot) by stripping it from its receptor site on the skin.
To use milk to help stop the jalapeno burn, soak your hands in milk in a shallow bowl for several minutes, or until the heat subsides. If needed, wash your hands again thoroughly with dish soap and soak them again in milk.
Consider using milk, yogurt, sour cream or crema, or even ice cream to soak the burning skin.
Here are some other suggestions from spicy food lovers.
Rubbing Alcohol
The oil that makes chili peppers hot, capsaicin, is more soluble in alcohol, so a quick rub down with rubbing alcohol (or even a high proof booze) can help wipe it from your skin.
Just be careful, as the initial application of rubbing alcohol can cause an initial burning or stinging sensation.
Oils
Oils can be effective in helping to dissolve the burning chili oils. Dab some olive oil or any other vegetable oil onto your burning skin with cotton balls or a napkin.
Soak or wipe the skin to help dissipate the chili pepper burn.
Weak Bleach Solution
This is according to Alton Brown of "Good Eats". He says to douse your already burning hands in a mild solution of 5 to 1 water to bleach.
The bleach helps wash away the capsaicin that hasn't yet absorbed into your skin.
Baking Soda or Corn Starch Paste
Starches can help draw out the oil from your burning skin so you can wash it away and possibly neutralize it. Use 1 tablespoon of baking soda or corn starch mixed with 1 tablespoon water to form a paste.
Rub this into your skin and scrub to remove the oils causing the hot pepper burn.
Time
Please note that the chili pepper burning sensation on your skin will dissipate over time, so don't think it's going to last forever.
For most people it lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, so give it time. It's not actual "burning" or damaging, only the sensation of burning, so you don't need to worry.
Hopefully this helps you find some relief with your burning skin.
Stopping Chili Pepper Burning in the Eyes
If you've been handling hot peppers and then touched your eyes, they can starts to burn and sting, as your eyes are extremely sensitive. If this happens, the best thing to do is to soak a paper towel in milk, then hold it to your burning eye.
The milk contains a chemical called "casein" that counteracts the burning chemical, "capsaicin", which makes hot peppers hot.
Stop the Burn from Eating Hot Peppers (Burning Mouth or Tongue from Chili Peppers)
Many of us have experience the burn after taking a bite of something too spicy. Often it's a bit too much hot sauce or an unexpected bit of heat at a spicy food restaurant, or you've simply miscalculated the heat of a pepper from your garden.
If you are experiencing mouth burn or tongue burn from eating jalapeno peppers or other hot peppers, here is what to do.
Eat Dairy
Because of the innate hotness of all chili peppers, they can burn not only the inside of your mouth, but your skin as well. If you find that you simply can't bear the heat after eating a chile pepper, try to consume a dairy product, like milk, yogurt, or ice cream.
Dairy products contain a chemical called casein that combats the effects of capsaicin (the chemical that makes peppers hot) by stripping it from its receptor site on the skin.
Milk can take some time to quell an intense burn, but it works. You'll notice an initial dissipation of the heat, but extremely hot peppers and foods can persist, so continue with the milk or dairy. Rinse and then swallow if necessary.
Sugar
I've also tried sugar and that seems to work in a pinch. Sugar can help absorb some of the hot chili oil and can reduce the burn, but it is primarily a distraction from the burn and lessen the effect.
Sugar is best added so recipes that already have hints of sweetness.
Time
The burning heat from eating spicy foods will eventually dissipate over time, so at least you know it won't last forever, even though it may feel that way at the moment.
I hope this helps. Again, please review the many reader comments below who've shared their own experiences and methods for combating burning skin, burning eyes, and burning tongues from eating hot peppers and other spicy foods.
Share Your Experience - Help Others
If you've found a solution that worked for you, please share your methods below to help others stop the chili pepper burn.
NOTE: This post was updated on 2/11/25 to include new information. It was originally published on 6/20/14.
Amy says
Just wanted to share what happened to my boyfriend a couple years ago. We grow our own hot peppers every year. And every year, when it comes time to processing them for sauce, i always wear gloves (along with a face mask & goggles too sometimes)!!!
Well my hunny, bless his heart, considers himself a tough guy & always works without the gloves. After chopping away, he washed his hands with dish soap & water. Now most of us know better than to think that a little soap is going to eliminate all those oils on your hands, under your fingernails, etc! But he can be a little stubborn.
Needless to say, he had... how should i say it politely... scratched his balls. Sorry, there is no way to be polite about saying it & this story is just too funny not to share! Anyways, you can imagine the little dance he was doing after that!
He jumped right into the shower & began to wash vigorously. Of course, all those oils are still on his hands. And so washing just made matters even worse! The water only seemed to spread those hot oils everywhere (down there). To this day, we still joke about his spicy hot balls!
So word to the wise- wear gloves!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hilarious! Sorry to hear about his spicy hot balls. Needless to say, I've actually been there (ouch!) and have a good friend who had the same issue and there was a bit of milk soaking involved to alleviate. So YES, wear gloves!
Amy says
Oh no! I actually think that painful mistake is a lot more common than most people could ever imagine! Its probably the "big bad secret truth" of the hot pepper world! The peppers are conspiring against us! Lol!
Beautiful website you have here, by the way 🙂
Ray says
Been there, done that! ..........not lately, though. One time was enough for me to learn my lesson!
Kevin Zawiszs says
Funny I did something similar probably about seven or eight years ago. I was using a couple peppers and one was a habanero to make some salsa. Did not use gloves while cutting. Thought I washed my hands thoroughly. Didn't burn my hands at all is the skin is a lot tougher and I tried not to get a whole lot of that on my fingers but obviously there was some on there wash my hands I thought thoroughly with soap and water and then went to the bathroom obviously being a male I had to hold my penis while peeing and about 30 seconds or so after finishing urination I began to feel a burn. I didn't have any milk as I started drinking soy milk back then then converted to almond milk I fortunately didn't have a whole lot on there but it was enough to have me severely uncomfortable for close to an hour. Don't remember if I tried washing with anything or not I think I probably was trying to rinse it off with some soap and water I don't really remember thanks for sharing nice story
Brooklyn says
My friend dared me To eat a hot pepper seed!!!! It hurt so much but then I just put a washcloth that had water on it and boom ? it was gone
Dave Howard says
Rubbing alcohol first, then Olive oil (or any cooking oil) then Dawn dish soap. Add the Dawn dish soap to your oily hands and wash thoroughly. That works for me, but get the pepper oil off before going to the bathroom!!! You think it's hot on your hands------that's a different ballgame if you get any oily pepper residue on tender areas----
Chris pooler says
Don't moan about it, just love the burn!aint that the point after all?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Haha, I hear ya! Though sometimes it might be TOO hot for someone unsuspecting. Plus the burn on the hands (and other body parts) is no fun.
Joshua Palmer says
Yep lol
Shaydee says
Someone help me!!!!
My fingers are cooking up here!!!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sorry to hear, Shaydee. Try the methods here and see what helps.
billy bob joe says
Oh my gosh, rubbing alchohol works so well, thank u so much...pardon my spelling
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Glad it helped!
SYEDA HUMA HASHIM says
I Wanted to serve my neighbours 'shami kabab' . I chopedgreen chilli in very small size , Unfortunately I couldn't wash hands even a hour ... Then u can't imagine what happened ? the intense burning sensation ... no words no words to say..... I used every thing for it milk, polyfax ointment, vinegar,milk ,mustard oils but failed... I feel that no remedy can work faster ... TAKE TIME EVEN 7 HOURS HAHAHA... IN LAST I APPLY SHAMPOO ON MY HANDS .... I FEEL THAT MY ALL SKIN CELLS ABSORBED BADLY.... NOW EVEN I AM IN INTENSE PAIN.....
REPLY: Syeda, I'm so sorry to hear! I know, sometimes the burning on your hands can feel quite intense. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
John says
Chili Sensi:. You have truly thought of everything from how to enjoy to how to deal with them when not handling them properly. I always use gloves now when handling multiple peppers. Thanks!
KRose says
Plain fat-free Greek yogurt just saved my life!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Glad to hear! Relief!
anomynous says
i tried milk but it only worked for a minute. then i tied an ice cube onto my burned finger with a cotton clothe. It really works and the burning disappeared immediately! but you have to keep ice cube facing the sting area all the time and change the ice cube when the former melts.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for sharing what helped.
Daniel says
A great tip I learned about combating the heat on its way out the next day is to drink a large glass of water immediately after the burning sensation in your mouth goes away. It helps things flush out w/less pain.
Ling says
I tried milk, cooking oil, soak, vinegar... all failed! But finally i did it!! very easy, just go wash your hair with hair shampoo, use your burn fingers to rub shampoo on hair with soft.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for sharing what worked for you!
jiro says
I tried using lotion, but it only worked for about a minute. My best solution was actually moisturizing hair conditioner, and it really dulled and erased the pain.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for sharing what worked for you!
Christie says
I tried everything tonight... Best final bedtime remedy! I tried a moisturizing conditioner and let it dry as if it was a lotion. It was so there a bit for a little while while it was drying, but it reduced the burn exponentially and now it's a only occasionally abearable mild tingle. I can get some sleep, thank you!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Glad the information was useful, Christie.