Everyone in the glove industry knows that disposable gloves and hand irritation literally go hand in hand. What is not such common knowledge, however, is that not all hand irritation comes from the usual suspect - natural rubber latex. In fact, wearers of latex, nitrile and vinyl gloves are all susceptible to skin irritation, allergies or dermatitis.
Medically speaking, an irritant can result in a painful reaction or inflammation. For those who wear disposable gloves, such reactions most often appear where the gloves contact the hands. However, reactions are not always limited to the hands and can result in systemic responses that may affect the entire body.
There are three primary types of reactions to disposable gloves: Type I and Type IV allergic reactions and irritant contact dermatitis.
A Type I allergic reaction is typically a response to contact with natural rubber latex. This is a systemic and widespread allergic reaction in someone who has a genetic predisposition to the allergen. This is the most severe type of reaction and can happen in a matter of minutes from initial contact. Symptoms include rash, watery eyes, runny nose, swelling, cramps, nausea, sneezing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and even anaphylactic shock. These symptoms are similar to those in individuals who suffer from a Type I allergic reaction to certain foods.
A Type IV allergic reaction is also known as allergic contact dermatitis. With this type of reaction, the person also has a genetic predisposition to the allergen, but it is limited to the area of contact. Therefore, the reaction will usually be confined to the hands. However, if the person touches the allergen to his face or other parts of the body, the reaction may appear there as well. Symptoms of Type IV allergic reactions include rash, swelling, itching, scaling of the skin and blisters. Poison ivy causes a Type IV reaction.
Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common cause of skin irritation in those who wear disposable gloves. This type of reaction is caused by a chemical irritant, such as soaps, hand sanitizers, detergents and disinfectants. It can also be caused by chemicals used in the manufacture of disposable gloves, including accelerator chemicals. Symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis include itching, burning, dryness, and blisters and can occur almost immediately or several hours after initial contact.