How to Minimize the Effects of Pepper Spray

Pepper spray is a small self-defense device carried by many people as a means of protecting themselves in case of an attack. Pepper spray contains an ingredient called oleoresin capsicum. This ingredient causes burning and stinging of the skin and eyes, and can easily be transferred from hands to clothes or vice versa. If you've accidentally been sprayed with pepper spray, there are ways you can minimize the stinging and burning effects in order to be more comfortable.

Things You'll Need

• Electric fan
• Bowl
• Milk
• Wash cloths
• Cold cream
• Soft towels

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Instructions

• 1

  Alleviate burning sensations with cool air.

  Direct the cool air from an electric fan toward your skin. This helps to soothe and cool the burning sensation caused by pepper spray.

• 2

  Pour cold milk into a bowl. Soak affected skin in the bowl of cold milk for 10 minutes at a time. Wet clean wash cloths with the milk, and lay them over areas of skin that won't fit into the bowl.

• 3

  Cool water soothes burning, stinging skin.

  Flush your skin with cool water wherever it's been exposed to pepper spray. While this won't remove the capsicum, it will help to soothe the skin.

• 4

  Apply cold cream to your pepper sprayed-skin. Cold cream is a non-oily cleanser that will help remove some of the oleoresin capsicum, without aggravating your skin by mixing with the oils in the pepper spray.

• 5

  Pat your skin dry with a soft, absorbent towel.