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).