# Capsaicin and sweating

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-and-sweating/329793>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 6, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-and-sweating/329793 "2005-11-06T14:49:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-and-sweating/329793/1 "2005-11-06T14:49:52Z")

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The Ms. overdid the jalepenos in last night’s soup and a question was raised. Why do hot peppers make you sweat? I’ve done some searching, and I understand that capsaicin activates the pain receptors in one’s mouth and throat, but why the sweating? Sweat is the body’s cooling mechanism, so does capsaicin raise one’s body temp? Or is sweating some sort of toxic reaction in this case?

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**Author:** ![Honesty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f04885/32.png) [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-and-sweating/329793/2 "2005-11-06T15:04:29Z")

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> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> The Ms. overdid the jalepenos in last night’s soup and a question was raised. Why do hot peppers make you sweat? I’ve done some searching, and I understand that capsaicin activates the pain receptors in one’s mouth and throat, but why the sweating? Sweat is the body’s cooling mechanism, so does capsaicin raise one’s body temp? Or is sweating some sort of toxic reaction in this case?

I don’t know the mechanism but [this article](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14987252&query_hl=1) seems to suggest that capsaicin may interact with VR1 receptors on sweat gland ducts and trigger exocytosis. On the other hand, it might be very well psychosomatic. I don’t know, but good question. 🙂 Maybe someone else will be able to provide a definitive answer.

- Honesty

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-and-sweating/329793/3 "2005-11-06T15:09:54Z")

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> [@Honesty](#):
>
> I don’t know the mechanism but [this article](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14987252&query_hl=1) seems to suggest that capsaicin may interact with VR1 receptors on sweat gland ducts and trigger exocytosis. On the other hand, it might be very well psychosomatic. I don’t know, but good question. 🙂 Maybe someone else will be able to provide a definitive answer.
> 
> - Honesty

Sweating doesn’t seem to be a universal reaction, so the mystery is compounded. I experience some mild facial sweating; my son becomes drenched after even mild exposure. I don’t believe it’s psychosomatic, but haven’t seen anything specific to dispell that notion.

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-and-sweating/329793/4 "2005-11-06T16:44:57Z")

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> [@Honesty](#):
>
> On the other hand, it might be very well psychosomatic. I don’t know, but good question. 🙂 Maybe someone else will be able to provide a definitive answer.

About the psychosomatic part. My father loved hot peppers. They made him sweat. One day we noticed that he would start to sweat when walking near the peppers in an air conditioned supermarket. 😃  
Yes we make fun of him after that. Called him Pavlov or spot or offered to ring a bell depending on our mood.