LATEX ALLERGY - HAND ECZEMA AND DIFFERENT IAL-DIAGNOSIS

In the case of contact allergies against latex gloves, one either deal s with a type I sensibilization leading to contact urticaria or with a type IV reaction resulting in hand eczema. The majority of glove alle rgies is caused by type reactions against products used in the manufac toring of gloves such as accelerants, especially thiurams, anti-oxidan ts, vulcanizers, organic pigments or powder. 30 - 60% of all glove all ergies develop on the basis of a preexisting hand eczema, either atopi c or psoriatic. As differential diagnosis one always has to exclude an newly developed or due to the moist environment aggravated tinea or a toxic-degenerative hand eczema.