HI!
I need some help urgently!

Due to a lack of experience, I used my bare hands and fingers to remove chilli seeds from red chilli (chilli pady) and now my fingers and hands feels very hot n stinging although it's been more than an hour.

To make things worst, my mother told me that salt is a good remedy but upon rubbing my hands with salt, it created an instant burning sensation and now my hands feel worst than ever.

Please tell me what I can do, I am feeling so uncomfortable!!

[mudbug]

You need to neutralize the capsaicin from the pepper.

Here are different things you might try...

1. Pour some baking soda in the palm of your hand, add a bit of milk if you have any or water to make a paste and then rub it all over your finger tips.

2. Try soaking your hands in cold milk, cooking oil, or liquor (alcohol).

3. Tear a slice of white bread up into a bowl and mix with evaporated milk to make a paste. Rub it on your hands.

4. Try Cortiszone 5.

5. Try a sugar and water paste solution.

6. Vitamin E gel.

* Wear rubber/latex gloves before handling them next time.

[This message has been edited by cchiu (edited 01-12-2001).]

Thanks!
Your advice is so helpful and my terrible feeling goes away after half an hour of trying almost everything u recommend!!!

I had the same experience after seeding a case of anaheim (mild!) chilies. I called poison control and they recommended neutralizing the alkaline in the capsacin (what makes chilies hot) by soaking my hands in vinegar (and acid.) Within 30 seconds of soaking in white vinegar, may hands felt normal again. the reason milk products cool the mouth after eating hot chilies is the lactic acid they contain. Cultured milk products (yogurt, buttermilk, kefir and sour cream) have higher amounts of lactic acid than non-cultured. However, they do not have high enough concentrations of lactic acid to neutralize the capsacin that eats into the skin of the hands, so vinegar works better. You will need to follow up with anti-inflammatory cream (like cortisone) to heal your skin because you are actually suffering a chemical burn.

[Chef David Simpson]

Welcome to www.cheftalk.com. USE LEMON JUICE!!!