What Are the Treatments for Jalapeno Pepper Burns on Skin?

The pain that comes from having jalapeno pepper oil on your skin is no laughing matter. The pain can be excruciating, can spread, and frequently requires morphine as a pain killer, should you have to go the hospital. Here's the thing: washing your hands with soap and hot water does nothing at all, as the oil in jalapenos--oleorsin capsicum--is not soluble in water. This stuff is potent, which goes a long way towards explaining why oleoresin capsicum is the active ingredient in pepper spray.

Cold Dairy Products

• Soak the affected area in cold sour cream, milk or yogurt to soothe the burn. Admittedly, the dairy technique doesn't permanently eliminate the burning, but rather offers immediate relief. Soaking in cold dairy product will bring immediate relief as long as the affected area remains submerged.

Apple Cider Vinegar

• Apple cider vinegar can help reduce the pain of the burn and disinfect and blistering that may have occurred. The antibiotic and antiseptic properties of apple cider vinegar make it as useful for keeping burning areas clean in addition to keeping them cool. As with dairy, chilled apple cider vinegar helps with discomfort just that extra little bit.

Common Products Used For Different Purposes

• If cold dairy products or apple cider vinegar don't do the trick, hemorrhoid cream makes an excellent anti-inflammatory. Additionally, any ointment containing aloe vera or hydro cortisone is effective, particularly ointments which contain little to oil (the burning effect of capsicum oil can be made worse by the interaction of other oils). Baby shampoo can also be used to alleviate much of the burning and inflammation associated with capsicum oil.

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