Dental India
Latex Gloves and Allergies
(Reprinted from California Nurse - September 1997)
This article was written by Maggie Robbins, an occupational health specialist,
and attorneys at the law offices of Kazan, McClain, Edises, Simon & Abrams in Oakland.
What are the problems that can be caused by wearing latex gloves?
There are three types of health problems that regular natural rubber latex gloves
wearers can have:
(1) irritant dermatitis,
(2) allergic contact dermatitis and
(3) immediate latex allergy.
Up to 17 percent of health care workers who regularly wear latex gloves have
developed an allergy to them. Latex allergies can be life-threatening.
IRRITANT DERMATITIS
What does it feel like?
Over time, your hands may become red and chapped, the skin may thicken and develop
hard bumps or cracks. This is the most common health problem associated with wearing
latex gloves.
What causes it?
Irritant dermatitis is an irritation caused by repeated hand washing and wearing of
gloves, especially powdered gloves. This is not an allergic reaction. Gloves may
cause irritation both because the powder is an irritant and because your skin stays
moist as you wear gloves for many hours during the day. Hand washing also may cause
irritation due to the use of strong scrubbing agents, soaps and detergents.
How do I prevent it?
Only wear gloves when you need them. When you wear gloves, remove them at least every
hour to allow hands to dry out. Use powderless gloves. When washing your hands, use
the mildest soaps, detergents and scrubs you can and rinse and dry your hands well.
Identify any irritating scrubs, soaps, detergents, or powders and avoid them. Also,
use an emollient to reduce dryness caused by hand washing (but don't use oil-based
ones before donning latex gloves; that can cause the latex to become weak and interfere
with barrier efficacy).
ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS (DELAYED)
What does it feel like?
Your hands, wrists and even forearms will develop a red, itchy rash, bumps, sores
and cracks. This reaction is similar to poison oak reactions in that the rash and
blisters usually don't arise until hours or even days after exposure.
What causes it?
This is an allergic reaction of the skin caused by chemicals inside the gloves.
The chemicals are residues from the glove-making process which were not completely
removed during manufacturing. The more you are exposed to these chemicals, the more
likely you will react to them.
How do I prevent it?
You can reduce this problem by using gloves labeled "hypo-allergenic" which are
specially manufactured to ensure low chemical levels (but these do not prevent
latex allergy, described below). You may also switch to a non-latex glove, though
they may have other chemicals residues.
Latex Allergy (immediate)
What does it feel like?
Symptoms may vary from hives and eczema to stuffy nose, red itchy eyes, swollen face,
difficulty breathing, asthma and anaphylaxis. These reactions can be life-threatening.
What causes it?
This is an immediate, systemic, allergic reaction to proteins on the surface of the
glove. The proteins in the gloves are unwanted residues from the manufacturing process.
The more you are exposed to proteins in latex gloves, the more likely you are to
develop a latex allergy.
How do I prevent it?
The most effective way to prevent becoming allergic to latex is to eliminate contact
with latex gloves and to avoid areas where powdered latex gloves are used. The proteins
adhere to the powder in the gloves and become airborne in areas where gloves are
frequently changed. The next best way to avoid becoming allergic to latex is to use
only latex gloves which are low in protein/allergen. Some manufacturers make very
low protein gloves. Gloves labeled "hypo-allergenic" are not necessarily low
protein/low allergen; they are only low in chemical allergens. Note; If you are
latex allergic, you should stop wearing latex gloves.
What is a low allergen/low protein glove?
Low allergen gloves are manufactured in a way which removes the excess protein.
Despite the name, "hypo-allergenic" gloves are not necessarily low allergen.
"Hypo- allergenic" gloves are only required to be low in chemical allergens.
There are several different methods for testing gloves for their allergen or
protein level, and unfortunately the labels on boxes of gloves don't usually
give you information about protein/allergen levels.
Are there non-latex gloves available which are as effective as latex?
Latex is an excellent barrier to protect health care workers from exposure to blood
and body fluids and the pathogens they contain. Latex is also desirable because of
its excellent elasticity and tactile sensitivity for surgeons and others doing
sensitive hand manipulations. However, in many other parts of the health care industry,
latex exam and surgical gloves are not necessary or advisable. First, you need to
evaluate whether a glove is needed at all in a given situation. If a glove is needed,
the type of glove should be selected carefully based on their durability needed for
the task, resistance to viruses, antibacterial qualities, allergen and powder level,
comfort to wear and sensitivity. There are non-latex glove materials including vinyl,
neoprene, and polymer which you should consider.
