At 08:31 PM 4/18/98 -0500, Michael Schapansky wrote: >My question is, how many of you list members routinely use gloves when >handling peppers? What happens if you don't? As a matter of routine, I do NOT use gloves or other protection when working with chiles; this is a matter of practice and knowing what you can get away with (inured by several mistakes of the type you describe). That's not to say there haven't been times I WISH I had done so... I have never experienced any kind of welting or rash when I DO get chile exudates on my hands. The most common side-effect is that if I cut and handle chiles in the evening, then the next morning when I shower, I find that the hot water "re-activates" the chile oils and causes a mild but not unpleasant tingling/heat sensation on my hands. Jonathan *************** <bold>Conservative</bold>, <italic>n.</italic> A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. - Ambrose Bierce, <italic>The Devil's Dictionary</italic>