What to do if your hands get spicy when peeling garlic

Friends who often do housework may know that our fingers will feel a very strong spicy sensation after peeling garlic. This is actually the same as the spicy feeling on our hands after cutting peppers. It is because garlic and peppers contain some irritating chemicals that burn the skin (also known as capsaicin). It is an alkaline substance. This symptom can be effectively alleviated by treating it with some antagonistic substances. Let me introduce it to you in detail below.

Apply with vinegar

Chili water is spicy because it contains capsaicin, an alkaline substance that acts on capillaries, causing blood vessels to dilate and stimulating the pain system. We can use vinegar to neutralize the acid and alkali, but the acidity of ordinary edible vinegar is not enough. You can soak the painful area in vinegar, which will have a better effect.

Hot water rinse

Generally, when our water starts to hurt when it comes into contact with pepper water, we are used to flushing the water pipes repeatedly with cold water. In fact, this is ineffective because capsaicin can only evaporate due to high temperature when rinsed with hot water, and cold water has no effect on it.

Alcohol application

Capsaicin can be dissolved in ethanol or alkaline solutions, so we can also wipe it with alcohol to relieve the pain. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol and wipe it in one direction several times, then dip it again and wipe it again. After repeating this several times, the capsaicin will dissolve in the alcohol and evaporate with the alcohol.

Soapy water

The same principle applies to soapy water. If you don't have alcohol at hand, you can rub your hands repeatedly with soap, soak them in the soapy water for a while, then rinse them with soapy water, pour out the previous soapy water and soak them again. After repeating this several times, the burning sensation on your hands will be relieved a lot.

Apply lemon juice

Lemon juice is very acidic, so when we apply lemon juice, we should also use a cotton swab to dip an appropriate amount and apply it to the painful area, wiping in one direction. After rubbing it several times, wash it with hot water and then apply it with a cotton swab dipped in lemon juice. This can also relieve pain quickly.