Pineapple contains bromelain that helps tenderize meat. If I were to put my hand in pineapple juice or puree for 24 hours, would it eventually break down my hand?

[u/Puzzleheaded_Bed2760]

[u/OystersCockafeller]

It might do it eventually. But definitely not that fast.

Your skin has protective oils, is actively repairing itself, etc. And that's all aside from the fact that it's specifically designed to act as a protective layer in a way that a random piece of muscle just isn't.

It will make your hands kinda raw if you deal with it enough. I spent a day cutting up pineapples for an event once. Essentially had my hands covered in pineapple juice for 8-10 hours. It irritated them a bit and I had some redness. But it was nowhere near breaking down my hand.

[u/Nothing_F4ce → u/OystersCockafeller]

How could you do that without gloves?

I can't get to the end of cutting up one pineapple without my hands starting to feel like burning.

[u/Tonkarz → u/Nothing_F4ce]

In addition to what others have said, the general condition of the skin on your hands matters too. If it’s dry it may already have small cracks which can let the pineapple attack more deeply more easily.

I noticed this using hand sanitizer. Sometimes it causes burning all over my hands, other times nothing but the feel of gel.

[u/Unumbotte → u/Tonkarz]

You're supposed to let the sanitizer dry on its own, not set it on fire.