This is a lesson I never seem to learn. I have ruined two pairs of contacts this way. (It’s nigh impossible to get them clean once the capsaicin has hit them. And imagine the difficulty of trying to remove a burning contact when your eyes are spasming shut from the chemical irritant.) And yes, many times with the bathroom thing. :eek: While my skin doesn’t seem to mind excessive levels of capsaicin, be forewarned if you wear contacts. One time, after peeling and deveining Thai birds eye chiles, I washed my hands three times with hot water and soap. It still didn’t get all the oils out and I still burned my eyes out removing my contacts.
I just wear glasses now when I know I’ll be handling chiles. (I can’t be bothered with gloves.)
Wow. Some of you people seem to be serious food scientists. You ought to join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Good_Eats/.