Chili pepper is the fruit of the plant Capsicum from the nightshade family.  The name of the plant bears no relation to Chili, the country.  The fruit is eaten raw or cooked for its fiery hot flavor by people all over the world.  Chile peppers are used around the world to make a countless variety of sauces and is sometimes eaten fresh. 

In order to use the hot chili peppers, we have to chop, mash, fondle or whatever the required process is and this is when we get in trouble.  The Capsicum is released and this is the substance that causes the burning.  It is the primary ingredient in pepper spray.  When you handle hot peppers capsicum sticks to your hands and produces an uncomfortable burning sensation. 

No matter how much you wash your hand it will sometimes takes days of washing to get rid of this burning substance.  The burning is transferred to any tender skin membrane that you touch afterwards.  So your eyes, genitals or even your very tender baby will feel the sting of the capsicum if you touch them  after handling hot pepper.  

A very effective solution that will neutralize the capsicum is to use cooking oil.  Completely rub your hands down for a good 10 seconds with 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil.  It doesn’t matter what kind of cooking oil that you use, the important thing is just to rub it well into your hands so that all the Capsaicin will be absorbed.  Then wash your hands with soap and water. 

Capsaicin is only soluble in fat so it will effectively absorb the burning substance.  You may have already heard the antidote for after eating very hot pepper is to drink milk instead of water.  The fat in the milk will actually absorb some of the capsaicin and wash it down your stomach. 

However when you want to remove the burning, stinging substance from your hand don’t use milk, use oil for a more thorough cleaning.

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