Capsaicin Use
By Amber
@AmbiePam (126897)
United States
June 15, 2026 2:44pm CST
So last week my pain management doctor moved my appointment from last week to this week. Which meant, of course, I ended up with no pain medication, at least until this Wednesday. It’s been quite a painful week, but today it got really tough. I decided to dig through my cabinets, and I found Capsaicin. I also found some food preparation gloves so I don’t get it on my hands. In case you’re unfamiliar, capsaicin is what makes peppers hot. The heat is supposed to help pain. I am so glad I had gloves because I’m familiar with the consequences of it. Yes, I wash my hands very well. However, I’ve touched my eye after applying it, not realizing what I was doing. Ow. I remember my Nana used it once, washed her hands, then used the bathroom, only to come out very uncomfortable. 
What are your experiences with capsaicin?
What are your experiences with capsaicin?22 people like this
19 responses
@DaddyEvil (178250)
• United States
16 Jun
I've never used it. I have tried Icy Hot ONCE and had to get mom to wash is off me again. I ended up with a burn that looked and felt like a sunburn. It HURT! I can use tea tree oil on muscle aches and it dulls the pain without burning my skin.
5 people like this
@AmbiePam (126897)
• United States
16 Jun
@DaddyEvil Yeah, I misspelled it. Lol I knew.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (178250)
• United States
16 Jun
@AmbiePam It's Tea tree oil. And you're welcome. When you go looking for it, the bottle will be sky blue but that's actually the color of the oil and the bottle itself is clear. It's from Australia.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (170565)
• United States
15 Jun
I have some of it on hand. If you get it on your hands or any place else you do not want it, apply cooking oil, then wash. I actually prefer it in a blended cream with other ingredients. Did it help your pain?
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (170565)
• United States
16 Jun
@AmbiePam I actually like "Advil targeted relief" cream. It has capsaicin, menthol, camphor and a salicylate combined. It seems to do better than any of the other creams I have tried. Of course using what you have on hand is smart, but if you ever replenish,I like the other.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (126897)
• United States
16 Jun
@GardenGerty Okay, thanks for the tip.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212788)
• United States
15 Jun
Never have used capasvin, but one time I had pepper spray in my purse. The canister leaked..and while fumbling around in there..I got it on my fingers and on my face..in my eyes too..PAINFUL!
2 people like this
@toniganzon (80743)
• Philippines
16 Jun
I have never used such at all.
Is it really effective in getting rid of the pain?
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (126897)
• United States
16 Jun
@toniganzon It might really help you if you have any pain. It’s kind of like using a heating pad.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (80743)
• Philippines
16 Jun
@AmbiePam I think I would use it overnight and just before I go to bed. But I have to remember to wash my hands the morning after.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (100784)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
15 Jun
My mother swore by an Chinese ointment known as tiger balm and it worked well for both of us heating up the painful spot, It could also be applied to the forehead to take away headaches, I hope this ointment helps you,
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (140355)
• Marion, Ohio
15 Jun
I have never used it. I always wear gloves when handling hot peppers
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (92137)
• United States
16 Jun
Did the capsaicin work for your pain?
I learned about capsaicin the hard way through chili peppers. Cut up a whole bunch without gloves and then washed my hands in hot water. Did not know that it would open my pores and all that heat would practically cripple my hands, I can still remember the pain and this was many years ago.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18979)
• Torrington, Connecticut
16 Jun
Oof, first of all, I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with a painful week because your appointment got moved. Running out of medication unexpectedly has to make things so much harder.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22696)
• United States
16 Jun
That sounds painful. I never used it. But I have used Icy Hot. I once accidently got some near my privates. It was pretty bad.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62819)
•
15 Jun
As you may remember, I am highly allergic to all things hot pepper. The only peppers I can eat are bell peppers and those tiny sweet peppers. The others cause my throat to close so I have to be careful. I hope it helps you, I hate to think of you in pain all the time, Amber.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62819)
•
15 Jun
@AmbiePam
It’s always seemed strange to me that my Dad and his brother had the very same problem with peppers. What a weird thing to inherit!!
2 people like this
@valherma00 (5346)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
17 Jun
i hope your eyes are okay. wow, this is really hot then. i think i didn't use this. i have sciatica but i use some mountain plant, i think.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223863)
• United States
19 Jun
My husband may have used it. I prefer pills to topical creams.
1 person likes this
@Treborika (18266)
• Mombasa, Kenya
16 Jun
For me this is the very first time l am hearing of it. I hope it works so effectively though. I really don't like pepper and something of that soughts.
1 person likes this
