Allergic reaction to latex-free gloves

[callmeanesthesia]

I’ve been using latex-free gloves for a couple years. About 1 1/2 months ago, I started to get some itchy spots on my hands. I thought it was the new gloves we had just gotten. A coupe of the spots got pretty nasty, looking like a fungal infection, so I treated it over the couple weeks I took off for Christmas and got them to resolve, and ordered new gloves. The ones I was reacting to were polychloroprene and the new ones (and the ones I had before) were polyisoprene. However, now I’m reacting to the PI gloves too. Looking into it, it looks like it’s most commonly a reaction to accelerators used in the manufacturing.
I don’t have a latex allergy (yet) but I’m concerned about switching to latex when my skin barrier is already compromised.
I’ve found a few “low allergy potential” gloves but wanted to see if anyone else has had this problem and how they handled it. Any specific glove brands and sources to recommend?
Thanks!

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[BobBarker]

Step 1: get own occupation disability policy

 

[callmeanesthesia]

Step 1: get own occupation disability policy

Have that.
Cross-posted to the general physician forum and got some decent tips from the surgeons. Cotton under gloves, a few brands of accelerator-free gloves. I also found a product called gloves in a bottle that’s supposed to form a barrier.

 

[Sig123]

Have that.
Cross-posted to the general physician forum and got some decent tips from the surgeons. Cotton under gloves, a few brands of accelerator-free gloves. I also found a product called gloves in a bottle that’s supposed to form a barrier.

I’ve been using latex-free gloves for a couple years. About 1 1/2 months ago, I started to get some itchy spots on my hands. I thought it was the new gloves we had just gotten. A coupe of the spots got pretty nasty, looking like a fungal infection, so I treated it over the couple weeks I took off for Christmas and got them to resolve, and ordered new gloves. The ones I was reacting to were polychloroprene and the new ones (and the ones I had before) were polyisoprene. However, now I’m reacting to the PI gloves too. Looking into it, it looks like it’s most commonly a reaction to accelerators used in the manufacturing.
I don’t have a latex allergy (yet) but I’m concerned about switching to latex when my skin barrier is already compromised.
I’ve found a few “low allergy potential” gloves but wanted to see if anyone else has had this problem and how they handled it. Any specific glove brands and sources to recommend?
Thanks!

Started having some issues myself over the last year with my hands getting super dry and scaly.

Started putting a pair of nitrile gloves on before my sterile gloves for epidurals etc and that has solved my problem.

 

[PinchandBurn]

Question..

I don't have a latex allergy. I am the only provider. Latex gloves are cheaper. Is there a reason not to purchase them? Even if a patient is allergic to latex the gloves aren't really touching them. In terms of staff again they aren't the ones doing the procedure. So any issues??

 

[lobelsteve]

Question..

I don't have a latex allergy. I am the only provider. Latex gloves are cheaper. Is there a reason not to purchase them? Even if a patient is allergic to latex the gloves aren't really touching them. In terms of staff again they aren't the ones doing the procedure. So any issues??

You cannot wear latex gloves if patient is allergic.

 

[Analgesia108]

Started having some issues myself over the last year with my hands getting super dry and scaly.

Started putting a pair of nitrile gloves on before my sterile gloves for epidurals etc and that has solved my problem.

I wear nitrile gloves when I examine patients and after few min, my palms itch & the erythema is apparent ...

 

[SSdoc33]

FYI, the manufacturers switch out the components in the manufacturing process on what seems to be a weekly basis. the glove feel / powderiness / oiliness is always changing. sometimes within the same vbox, sometimes within the same paired sleeve

i suspect you will find little oversight on what is actually in the glove you use and how it is made

 

[Ducttape]

i also would not suggest daily use of latex gloves so that you do not develop hypersensitivity to latex.

i like "gloves in a bottle". its a good moisturizer, but dont know if it truly causes a barrier to prevent allergic reaction to chemicals.


id suggest you get a set of sterile nitrile gloves, or use nitrile gloves inside of your polyneoprene gloves...

 

[callmeanesthesia]

i also would not suggest daily use of latex gloves so that you do not develop hypersensitivity to latex.

i like "gloves in a bottle". its a good moisturizer, but dont know if it truly causes a barrier to prevent allergic reaction to chemicals.


id suggest you get a set of sterile nitrile gloves, or use nitrile gloves inside of your polyneoprene gloves...

From what I’ve read nitrile, unless you get specially made ones, also contains accelerators. May need to get patch testing done but for the moment I’m trying to do as many barrier things as possible to get the reaction to cool off and avoid further sensitization.

 

[SSdoc33]

From what I’ve read nitrile, unless you get specially made ones, also contains accelerators. May need to get patch testing done but for the moment I’m trying to do as many barrier things as possible to get the reaction to cool off and avoid further sensitization.

whats up with your family and weird reactions to medications/products?

 

[PinchandBurn]

You cannot wear latex gloves if patient is allergic.

I understand that is the inherent reaction to this questions. However when you do a SI joint injection/ESI/MBB. You are not really 'touching' the patient with your gloves are you? You are touching only the needles, syringes,etc.

How could that cause a reaction to the patient?? Please give me the science.

On the other hand, if one is doing a stimulator implant or something invasive where you are actually 'in' the patient, obviously avoid latex.

 

[BobBarker]

I use latex in the office due to cost. I have a box of non latex if needed. I use non latex at the hospital. The non latex are 4-5x more expensive.

You can also get sterile nitrile that are in small/medium/large. These were very affordable but we’re out of stock or very expensive last I looked. @gdub25

 

[lobelsteve]

I understand that is the inherent reaction to this questions. However when you do a SI joint injection/ESI/MBB. You are not really 'touching' the patient with your gloves are you? You are touching only the needles, syringes,etc.

How could that cause a reaction to the patient?? Please give me the science.

On the other hand, if one is doing a stimulator implant or something invasive where you are actually 'in' the patient, obviously avoid latex.

There is no procedure i do without my glove touching the patient.

 

[PinchandBurn]

There is no procedure i do without my glove touching the patient.

You don't do SCS?

 

[PinchandBurn]

I use latex in the office due to cost. I have a box of non latex if needed. I use non latex at the hospital. The non latex are 4-5x more expensive.

You can also get sterile nitrile that are in small/medium/large. These were very affordable but we’re out of stock or very expensive last I looked. @gdub25

This makes sense. Steve doesn't worry about cost. He's employed

 

[lobelsteve]

You don't do SCS?

I do scs. Wondering how you do procedures.

 

[BobBarker]

For a sij, I probably don’t touch the patient but I certainly have touched the needle that touches the patient so would rec using latex free gloves.

 

[callmeanesthesia]

I touch the patient’s back with several fingers from the other hand as I put the needle in, as a distracting stimulus, for pretty much every injection.
One of my MAs was a chef for about 15 years. He said they routinely used latex gloves in the restaurant industry.

 

[cowboydoc]

Our nurse has severe reaction to everything except these:

 

[PinchandBurn]

I do scs. Wondering how you do procedures.

I am more interested in how you do a stim implant without touching the patient.a Please enlighten us!!

 

[lobelsteve]

I am more interested in how you do a stim implant without touching the patient.a Please enlighten us!!

I think you misunderstood me. There is no procedure I perform where my gloves are not at some point on or in the patient.

 

[Ducttape]

I understand that is the inherent reaction to this questions. However when you do a SI joint injection/ESI/MBB. You are not really 'touching' the patient with your gloves are you? You are touching only the needles, syringes,etc.

How could that cause a reaction to the patient?? Please give me the science.

On the other hand, if one is doing a stimulator implant or something invasive where you are actually 'in' the patient, obviously avoid latex.

if you touch a piece of equipment, that may contact the patient and cause an reaction.

equally likely is that the patient finds out you used latex gloves, and that rash -the one that sprouted out 10 days later, right after waltzing through a field of poison ivy, and after a lunch against a poison oak tree - was due to your latex gloves...

 

[PinchandBurn]

if you touch a piece of equipment, that may contact the patient and cause an reaction.

equally likely is that the patient finds out you used latex gloves, and that rash -the one that sprouted out 10 days later, right after waltzing through a field of poison ivy, and after a lunch against a poison oak tree - was due to your latex gloves...

ahhaha

i will tk my chances. the sky can fall also 🙂