Chopping chillies !

I've always ridiculed advice to wear gloves when working with fresh chillies (on the assumption that you wash your hands afterwards and remember not to put your finger in your eye!).
Yesterday however finely chopped about 50 chillies as a re-stock exercise for masalas and to freeze and I have the following revision to my opinion - don't chop this many in one sitting!
not only is my left hand still tingling 12 hours and several washes later, but I've also noticed that my chopping board has been bleached white in the centre.......!