oh oh ouch... I found out the hard way that even scratching your EAR is a bad idea. I swear, capsicum comes complete with a tiny needle.

A friend of mine taught me a good tip, though. Rub your fingertips liberally with cooking oil first, to saturate the pores or something. I wipe off the excess with just a paper towel afterwards. After I'm done handling the chili or jalapenos I wash my hands well with soap. I think it cuts down on the amount my skin absorbs.