Dealing with skin reactions to gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic
Mohammadreza Tabary, Farnaz Araghi, Soheila Nasiri, Sahar Dadkhahfar
Abstract
To the Editor-Healthcare workers (HCWs) are encouraged to wear gloves by the WHO in the direct care of the patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical gloves are made of different polymers, including latex, nitrile rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and neoprene. Nitrile and latex gloves are preferred during the COVID-19 pandemic due to better durability. 1 Latex gloves are flexible, fit well, are sensitive to touch, and provide moderate protection. 2 Vinyl gloves provide moderate protection, are sensitive to touch, but are not as durable. 2 However, nitrile gloves are chemical-and puncture-resistant and provide the highest level of protection and durability. 2 Many adverse skin reactions, including irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and contact urticaria have been reported with the use of all types of gloves.