Glove powder affects skin roughness, one parameter of skin irritation

Most patients with immediate-type-hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex (NRL) give a history of hand eczema. Susceptibility to allergens is increas ed by irritant hand eczema due to damage to the skin barrier. Therefore, es pecially for employees in medical or paramedical professions, reduction in skin irritation is of importance. The present study reports the effect of g love powder on skin roughness, one feature of skin irritancy. Skin replicas , performed before and after wearing different types of gloves, were evalua ted by laser profilometry. Significant alteration of skin roughness was evi dent and determined by different factors. Use of unpowdered Biogel gloves o n prepowdered hands results in an increase in skin roughness, in contrast t o the use of Biogel gloves on hands without any pre-application. On the oth er hand, powdered Manex neoderm gloves show no influence on the skin struct ure, whereas powdered Peha taft gloves also increase the roughness of the s kin. Other potential candidates causing skin morphology alteration could be the glove pH, rubber chemicals with irritant potential and other character istics of gloves, which are already under investigation.