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.
Gary says
My wife cut bunch of hot peppers without gloves yesterday and she told me that it's feeling like burn on her hands. She tried washing hands with milk but it didn't work, so she kept ice pack on her hands until we go to bed. We were afraid this pain might last for a week.
I ended up to find these comments and told her to try body oil. She tried it for 3 times and the burn went away!
First time, she massaged her hands with the oil carefully, and rinsed off with the water. And dried them.
And next, she tried it again, but with body scrub, thinking the particles can help it. (She could feel the burns are vanishing.)
And lastly, with confidence, we did it again with salt like similar effect with body scrub, and almost all pain went away.
(But I'm not sure how much body scrub and salt boost this effect. I just wanted to test them.)
Thank you for the comments guys!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for your comments, Gary. Every bit helps!!
KarenG says
I had the worst pain ever. I cut up lots of Thai red chilli pepper and after 30 minutes it was painful. I tried , isopropyl alcohol then dipped my hand in yogurt and milk. Rubbed some lemon but it only got worse. So I thought, the only effective cleanser I know is my Garnier Miscellar Water make up remover. I rubbed my hand with cotton rounds soaked with miscellar water and sat in front of a full blast fan. After 30 minutes, miraculously, the pain was gone!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for sharing, KarenG. I'm sure this will be useful to others!
Geraldine says
Oh this worked for my sister too.
Riley says
One of the worst pains every. Made just some simple jalapeño poppers
And two or so hours later my hands legit lit on fire it felt like. Try a really strong hand cream and The olive oil treatment because that’s how I fell asleep finally
Jeaneene says
I used benadryl after trying aloe cut straight from my plant, half n half soak, baking soda/powder paste, and alcohol. I took two benadryl and two advil and broke open two ice packs and fell asleep with them in my hands. This morning my fingers still tingle, but they no longer burn. That was the worst!
Rowena says
Aloe Vera is the best medicine for burns due to super hot chili peppers. It relieves the pain instantly! Apply it on skin or lips its safe and very effective!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for contributing, Rowena. We ALL appreciate the ideas and help!
Scarlett says
I had a terrible burn on my hand last night, the whole operation took 7hours! I had tried everything from washing with vinegar, alcohol, scrubbing with olive oil and salt, soaking with milk for three hours but nothing seemed to work. Doesn’t ease the burn at all. It was getting late and I was more desperate to remove the burn from my hands. So I washed my rub my hands with olive oil and salt again and rinse off with warm water. It was excruciating!!!! The burn seemed to wash off but my thumb and index finger was burning again.
I washed my hands with conditioner and let dry ( I tried this for about five times until most of the pain goes away). There would be some burning sensation left, and I found body oil, rub it extensively (it’s soothing because my hands were so dry from washing), wait for a minute or so then rinse it with water.
Then, I was sleeping soundly at 3am...
Ixchel says
Did it still hurt after you did all this?
Angela says
Worked with Serrano chilis for dinner. Went to sleep 2-3 h later. Woke up in the middle of the night from pain on my leg that I scratched in my sleep. Gosh.... then my hands began to burn like there is no tomorrow... thanks for advices, alcohol rub seems to help, but I guess it will take a while until it completely stops to burn. What a nightmare.
Anna says
This site helped me, and the answer was alcohol based hand sanitizer. I used a chili cream for my muscle pain, and it burned my skin at the middle of the night. Used lotion, milk, vinegar and scrub too!
Musti says
Saved my life, thanks a lot
Glenn says
Pickled some lighting Habs and somehow got the capsaicin on the back of my hand..OUCH....but St Ives green tea face scrub for the win...still burns a bit but it's manageable
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for the input, Glenn! I hope it helps someone else with the burning issue.
jeff says
I processed 35 lbs of Ghost and the like over the past three days to make jellies, hot sauce and dried peppers that I use in my dry rub. Used Latex gloves doubled. Never touched the peppers with bare hands. Still got hand heat from Oils that will migrate thru the gloves especially Latex because they are not made to stop oils, The black gloves that are used by mechanics are made to block oil base from getting to the skin. Know which gloves stop what type of substance. I don't really mind because I use capsaicin for my chronic joint pain so the feeling of the "burn" is a normal feeling. Vinegar 10/1 with water for 10 minutes will quell the bad burn and the rest will subside in time. Maybe this is the "cost" of home made stuff, which we all agree is better than anything you can buy because it is made with love. Enjoy the heat, it's good for you @zepinkpig, follow me.
Lauren says
The oils can go through latex. Need to use rubber gloves
Penny says
I tried yoghurt, dish washing soap and milk but none of them helped. Finally I tried vodka (didn’t have rubbing alcohol). I put it in cotton wool and rubbed it all over the burning areas. It didn’t completely go, but got rid of the pain from most of my fingers and improved the pain in my thumbs (the worst affected). Thanks for all the tips.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for sharing, Penny. Very helpful.
Prachi says
I went with applying oil, then some cold milk, followed by my nail paint remover and then finally spraying some alcohol based deodorant on my hands. Don't know which of these worked, or maybe all worked in some way or the other. It took about an hour and a half to heal.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for sharing, Prachi. I hope this is able to help someone else! The burn can be quite distressing.
Diana says
I tried all of the remedies and my fingers were still burning. Watkins salve worked the best. First cleaned with rubbing alcohol.
Aly says
Nothing was working so I mixed baking soda, Dawn, and kosher salt together and rubbed it on my burning skin roughly. Applied twice and the burn is nearly gone.