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Latex allergy can be easily determined by having the glove wearer have a serological or skin test. They can be initially recognized by the symptoms that occur immediately after using latex gloves or shortly after using them. Symptoms characteristic of an allergy include redness and dryness of the skin, rash and hives. It is also very common for the skin that has been in contact with the allergen to itch.

Occasionally, the eyelids, tongue, and face begin to swell, and a person who has previously worn gloves has red, watery eyes, a runny nose, and a general feeling of discomfort when breathing. If these symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.

As latex allergies affect up to 20% of workers in the aforementioned industries, the search for alternatives to latex gloves has begun – adequate hand protection is just as important as protecting other parts of the body. Sensitivity to vinyl or nitrile gloves is relatively rare, so if latex causes disturbing symptoms or discomfort, try these materials. Foil gloves, which can be changed frequently, are another option. Store them in special boxes or dispensers that allow them to be hygienically removed and put on.

Nitrile gloves have very similar properties to latex gloves. They are characterized by high resistance to chemicals and damage. While slightly less flexible than their allergenic alternative to some, they stretch and fit easily in your hand. Therefore, they are suitable for manual work that requires them to be performed with due precision. Some models of nitrile gloves may be coated on the inside with hand care products or bactericides to help maintain a proper level of hygiene.

Vinyl gloves are distinguished by very good resistance to oils and fats, which latex gloves do not do well. Nothing prevents them from coming into contact with chemicals as well. They can be much cheaper than latex or nitrile gloves. However, you should pay attention to the correct selection of the size of this type of gloves – too small gloves will cause great discomfort, while too large ones will fall off your hands.

You can only prevent allergy to latex gloves by avoiding potential allergens. In addition, desensitization can also be undertaken, although this is a rarely practiced solution. Occasionally, when a latex allergy is suspected, it may not be latex causing the immune reaction, but the powder or talcum powder used to fill the inside of the glove.

The risk of sensitization increases in people who come into frequent contact with latex. They will be not only beauticians, nurses, doctors and people working in the kitchen, but also people who often stay in hospitals, where most of the accessories used for care and treatment are made of latex.

Also, coping with other allergies can be a risk factor if you are likely to develop latex allergies. People with an immune response to pollen from trees, fungi and plants are particularly vulnerable. Cross-reactions are also observed in people allergic to fruits such as plums, peaches, apricots, bananas, pineapples, kiwi, papayas and mangoes, and vegetables – tomatoes and peppers. The profilins they contain are responsible for this.

Occasionally we may not notice the symptoms of a latex allergy at first because they are very subtle, but they will get worse over time. Then you should give up any items and gloves with an admixture of this material, and obtain disposable gloves made of materials appropriate for you. It also happens that an allergic reaction occurs so long after using a latex product that we do not associate it with any allergic problems.

There are different reactions to latex:

• immediate – with the highest risk of anaphylactic shock. Then, after contact with the allergen, the aforementioned skin or respiratory symptoms appear.
• delayed – we observe them when, within a few or several hours after using latex gloves, there is hives, reddening of the skin or rashes in the place that has been in contact with the allergen and in its vicinity and, less frequently, also in other places on the body.
• resulting from irritation – occurs when the skin is irritated as a result of wearing gloves for too long, which may result from sweating hands, the presence of care or washing agents on them, and frequent disinfection, which makes the hands more susceptible to allergic reactions and irritations.

Latex glove allergy, while inconvenient, does not completely rule out working with gloves, as there are many alternatives available on the market.