After reading the Feb.28 post on capaicin, and the concern about "making the
milk hot pepper flavored..spicy milk", one of our staff LC's asked me to
report the following experience about capsaicin cream, which is available
over the counter for arthritis pain relief.  Listed as "high potency"
strength, the strongest OTC formulation thus far is 0.075% strength.
Yesterday she used her right hand to apply some to her husband's right
shoulder for arthritis relief.  He was not impressed, saying that he felt no
real change at all.  (He also happens to be a healthy, active,
well-controlled Type II diabetic with no diagnosed neuropathy).  He wore his
usual broadcloth shirt and business suit to work and felt nothing unusual all
day.
After the application, she washed her hands very thoroughly (she thought)
with soap and water as advised in the directions, and thought no more about
it.  Ten minutes later she rubbed her right eye inadvertantly.  She
immediately developed stinging and redness of the conjuntiva.  A tiny bit
must have remained beneath her very short index fingernail.  The eye cleared
up when rinsed thoroughly with clear water.
Three hours later, she was on a home visit.  Ten minutes after putting on a
pair of latex gloves, she noted a slight burning sensation on the BACKS OF
BOTH HANDS. The burning went away after the gloves were removed.  There was
no visible irritation.
That afternoon, during his physical therapy, her husband had to ask his
therapist to remove the usual preparatory hot packs, due to a painfiul
burning sensation of the skin where the cream had been applied six hours
before.  There was no redness or irritation visible.
The directions specify not for use on children under 12 years of age.  If
this experience is the least bit typical, it is frightening to imagine the
possible eye, hand.and mouth disconfort to an infant who comes in contact
with a breast which had such treatment in the hope of removing pain with this
"counterirritant".  Even the  mother herself might suffer some of the same
discomforts after applying, despite careful handwashing(or breast washing).