An experiment was conducted to investigate the sensitivity of the skin to capsaicin. Whereas most previous work on capsaicin's cutaneous (extra-oral) effects have focused on its ability to sensitize or desensitize the skin to subsequent stimulation, the present study measured the absolute sensitivity to, and the sensations produced by, transient exposures to capsaicin. A wide range of concentrations of capsaicin was presented to the volar forearm under conditions that prevented significant evaporation for the first 10 min of exposure, and subjects reported the sensations they experienced over a 20-min period. The results showed that capsaicin produced a variety of sensations (including itch, stinging/pricking and burning) that varied in time and frequency of appearance. Missing from the subjective reports was a significant thermal component to the sensation; capsaicin apparently failed to stimulate warm fibers either strongly or reliably. Overall, however, the variety of sensations induced by capsaicin reflects the multi-modal nature of the chemical sensitivity of the skin.
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Green et al. (1988) studied this question.