Editing Capsaicin (section)

==Irritant effects==
===Acute health effects===
Capsaicin is a strong irritant requiring proper protective goggles, respirators, and proper hazardous material-handling procedures. Capsaicin takes effect upon skin contact (irritant, sensitizer), eye contact (irritant), ingestion, and inhalation (lung irritant, lung sensitizer). The {{LD50}} in mice is 47.2&nbsp;mg/kg.<ref name="tox">{{cite web |url=http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Capsaicin_Natural-9923296 |title=Capsaicin Material Safety Data Sheet |access-date=13 July 2007 |publisher=sciencelab.com |year=2007 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083820/http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Capsaicin_Natural-9923296 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="pmid17365137">{{cite journal | vauthors = Johnson W | title = Final report on the safety assessment of capsicum annuum extract, capsicum annuum fruit extract, capsicum annuum resin, capsicum annuum fruit powder, capsicum frutescens fruit, capsicum frutescens fruit extract, capsicum frutescens resin, and capsaicin | journal = International Journal of Toxicology | volume = 26 | issue = Suppl 1 | pages = 3–106 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17365137 | doi = 10.1080/10915810601163939 | s2cid = 208154058 | doi-access = free}}</ref>

Painful exposures to capsaicin-containing peppers are among the most common plant-related exposures presented to poison centers.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Krenzelok EP, Jacobsen TD | title = Plant exposures ... a national profile of the most common plant genera | journal = Veterinary and Human Toxicology | volume = 39 | issue = 4 | pages = 248–249 | date = August 1997 | pmid = 9251180}}</ref> They cause burning or stinging pain to the skin and, if ingested in large amounts by adults or small amounts by children, can produce nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and burning diarrhea. Eye exposure produces intense tearing, pain, [[conjunctivitis]], and [[blepharospasm]].<ref name="tox2">{{Cite book|title=Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies | veditors = Goldfrank LR |page=1167 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York, New York|isbn=978-0-07-144310-4|date=23 March 2007 }}</ref>

===Treatment after exposure===
The primary treatment is removal of the offending substance. Plain water is ineffective at removing capsaicin.<ref name="tox" /> Capsaicin is soluble in alcohol, which can be used to clean contaminated items.<ref name="tox" />

When capsaicin is ingested, cold milk may be an effective way to relieve the burning sensation due to [[casein]]s in milk, and the water of milk acts as a [[surfactant]], allowing the capsaicin to form an [[emulsion]] with it.<ref>{{Cite web | vauthors = Senese F | date = 23 February 2018 |url= https://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/features/capsaicin.shtml| work = General Chemistry Online | title = Fire and Spice| publisher = Department of Chemistry, Frostburg State University }}</ref>

===Weight loss and regain===
As of 2007, there was no evidence showing that weight loss is directly correlated with ingesting capsaicin. Well-designed [[clinical research]] had not been performed because the [[pungency]] of capsaicin in prescribed doses under research prevented subjects from complying in the study.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Diepvens K, Westerterp KR, Westerterp-Plantenga MS | title = Obesity and thermogenesis related to the consumption of caffeine, ephedrine, capsaicin, and green tea | journal = American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology | volume = 292 | issue = 1 | pages = R77–R85 | date = January 2007 | pmid = 16840650 | doi = 10.1152/ajpregu.00832.2005 | s2cid = 7529851 | url = https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/d418019f-bac5-49bd-b3de-dfaf8f2c6736 }}</ref>  A 2014 [[meta-analysis]] of further trials found weak evidence that consuming capsaicin before a meal might slightly reduce the amount of food consumed, and might drive food preference toward [[carbohydrate]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Whiting S, Derbyshire EJ, Tiwari B | title = Could capsaicinoids help to support weight management? A systematic review and meta-analysis of energy intake data | journal = Appetite | volume = 73 | pages = 183–188 | date = February 2014 | pmid = 24246368 | doi = 10.1016/j.appet.2013.11.005 | s2cid = 30252935 }}</ref>

===Peptic ulcer ===
One 2006 review concluded that capsaicin may relieve symptoms of a [[peptic ulcer]] rather than being a cause of it.<ref name="pmid16621751">{{cite journal | vauthors = Satyanarayana MN | title = Capsaicin and gastric ulcers | journal = Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition | volume = 46 | issue = 4 | pages = 275–328 | date = 2006 | pmid = 16621751 | doi = 10.1080/1040-830491379236 | s2cid = 40023195 }}</ref>

===Death===
Ingestion of high quantities of capsaicin can be deadly,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://health.clevelandclinic.org/health-risks-of-spicy-food |title=The Health Risks of Eating Extremely Spicy Foods |website=[[Cleveland Clinic]] |date=March 12, 2023}}</ref> particularly in people with heart problems.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/paqui-spicy-chip-challenge-death-autopsy-f81c220c549ec497bcc626dec4fc2be4 |title=Teen died from eating a spicy chip as part of social media challenge, autopsy report concludes |date=2024-05-16 |website=[[AP News]]}}</ref> Even healthy young people can suffer adverse health effects like [[myocardial infarction]] after ingestion of capsaicin capsules.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sogut O, Kaya H, Gokdemir MT, Sezen Y | title = Acute myocardial infarction and coronary vasospasm associated with the ingestion of cayenne pepper pills in a 25-year-old male | journal = International Journal of Emergency Medicine | volume = 5 | pages = 5 | date = January 2012 | pmid = 22264348 | pmc = 3284873 | doi = 10.1186/1865-1380-5-5 | doi-access = free }}</ref>