Types of Reactions
Use of natural rubber products may result in reactions that fall into the following three categories:
- irritant contact dermatitis
- allergic contact dermatitis (Type IV delayed hypersensitivity)
- IgE/histamine-mediated allergy (Type I immediate hypersensitivity)
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
When gloves are associated with skin wounds, the most common reaction is irritant contact dermatitis. Irritant contact dermatitis may be due to direct irritation from gloves or glove powder. It may also be due to other causes, such as the following:
- soaps and detergents
- incomplete hand drying
- other chemicals
Irritant contact dermatitis presents as dried, cracked, split skin. Although irritant contact dermatitis is not an allergic reaction, the breaking of the intact skin barrier due to these lesions may afford a pathway for other natural rubber latex (NRL) proteins to gain access, which can cause a development of sensitivity. Additionally, irritant contact dermatitis lesions disrupt the barrier function that intact skin provides to inhibit passage of various chemicals and pathogens.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-2. Irritant contact dermatitis may be due to ______ irritation from gloves or glove powder.
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