Latex-free gloves are important for people with allergies and medical facilities. They are made from materials like vinyl and nitrile, with nitrile being similar to latex but without the proteins that cause allergies. They come in different sizes and grades, with medical grade being the best for medical applications. Some people prefer reusable gloves to reduce environmental impact. There are many options available, and they can be found in stores and online.
There are many people who have significant latex allergies and this can mean taking special precautions when it comes to buying gloves for the household. It is also important for medical facilities to have latex-free gloves so that patients with latex allergies are not potentially at risk if a healthcare professional has to perform gloved procedures on such patients. The growing awareness of latex allergies has led numerous manufacturers to produce many different varieties of protective hand coverings that do not contain latex.
Most latex-free gloves are made from materials such as vinyl and nitrile, and of these, nitrile is often thought of as being very similar to latex. Some people call nitrile synthetic latex, but that doesn’t mean it contains any of the natural proteins that can cause latex allergies or sensitivities. In some cases, especially when people are exposed to latex on a regular basis, latex substitutes are preferred because some case studies show that people can develop latex sensitivities over time and that the risk of this may increase with increased use.
As with real latex gloves, latex-free gloves come in a variety of sizes. For most medical applications, they are disposable and are meant for single use only. They can also be rated for their intended purpose and subject to special inspections if they will be used in high-risk locations such as hospitals. There are usually three grades available: medical grade, high risk, and utility.
The degree of utility is not subject to as much scrutiny and may be the most common latex-free disposable glove in homes, especially when used for housekeeping tasks. While useful for keeping items such as cleaners away from the skin, these are not sterile and would not be ideal for use in medical applications. Even around the house it’s a good idea to have some medical grade gloves to use in case of a medical emergency, although in an emergency the utility grade might provide some protection.
Some people hesitate to use disposable gloves because their materials cause a significant environmental debt. Latex has the advantage of being biodegradable, which cannot be said for vinyl or nitrile. For this reason, people may want to look into latex-free reusable gloves, and there are many available. There are a number of models, and some come with lining, which can be more comfortable when the gloves are worn for extended periods of time.
The glove industry has certainly risen to the challenge of providing coverage and hand protection for those with latex allergies. Considerable choice and variety now exist in the materials that create latex-free gloves. Many of these household gloves can be found in grocery stores or drugstores, and numerous companies also sell many styles and grades online at prices similar to those made from latex materials.
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