Hopefully this helps you find some relief with your burning skin. 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. 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. Be sure to read the comments below to learn other ways people have alleviated the heat for themselves. 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. NOTE: This post was updated on 5/17/22 to include new information. It was originally published on 6/20/14. The milk contains a chemical called “casein” that counteracts the burning chemical, “capsaicin”, which makes hot peppers hot. If you are experiencing mouth burn or tongue burn from eating jalapeno peppers or other hot peppers, here is what to do. 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.
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.
