I started working in a lab in summer and about a month later the skin on my fingers started to crack, peel and become thick. I didn’t know what it was and no treatment for anything I coudl think of (ezcema, fungus, psoriasis) worked. I went to the doctor yesterday and he said it was a latex allergy to using gloves.
I’m looking up info online about latex allergies but hopefully someone here already has experience with it and knows how long it’ll take to clear up.
In my chemistry project I used to wear powder free latex gloves. In my inorganic lab (which I started this spring) I wear blue nitrile gloves. The doctor said it was best to switch to the powder/latex free purple gloves, so I got a box of those and I’m going to start wearing those.
Does anyone know how long it can take for the skin condition to clear up? I went home during christmas break and for 3 weeks never had contact with any latex gloves, but my skin condition only improved slightly.
Also, since other people in the lab where I work are wearing powder free latex gloves is there any risk of air contamination? I have heard with powdered gloves that the snapping and removing of them puts the powder & protein in the air, but I don’t know if the powder free gloves still have airborne proteins that can cause lung allergies.
Are there differences between the blue nitrile and the purple nitrile gloves?
These are the blue brand, N-dex
http://170.224.36.5/images/products/3AJ71.JPG
And these are the purple brand, Kimberly Clark
I forget who makes the white powder free gloves that I normally wear in the lab. It comes in a yellow & black box with grey lettering on it though.
What else can I do to cut down on latex allergies? Is there a spray I can apply to my hands before I go into lab and put my gloves on to give me extra protection?