Latex Gloves Alternatives: What to Wear If You’re Allergic?

Disposable latex gloves are popular, but not everyone can wear them. Latex allergies are on the rise, prompting many people to look into alternative options. If you can't wear natural rubber gloves without risking an allergic reaction, what should you use as an alternative to latex gloves?

This is a great question, but don't worry! There are many safe latex gloves alternatives on the market today that can offer effective protection from harmful bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. To understand which ones will work best, let's look at the reasons many people like latex gloves.

Why Are Latex Gloves Popular?

Latex is the most widely used material in disposable gloves designed to protect health care workers from the risk of infection. Gloves made with latex conform to the shape of your hand more easily than those made with other synthetic or natural materials. They are comfortable and allow for a better grip, while preserving tactile sensitivity for fine-grained tasks.

In addition, they're biodegradable, strong, and comfortable to wear over long periods of time (unless you have a latex allergy).

This combination of comfort, sensitivity, and snug fit makes latex disposable gloves a common choice in health care settings. Doctors benefit from the ability to clearly feel textures and shapes through their gloves when performing patient exams.

Downsides of Latex Gloves

The main issue with using disposable gloves made of latex is that many people have allergic reactions to this material. Latex is a natural rubber that is derived from tree sap, and it contains proteins that are common triggers for immune responses. The FDA banned powdered latex medical gloves in 1996 due to the high risk of triggering allergic reactions for both patients and health care workers. But even non-powdered latex gloves carry a significant allergy risk.

Though latex allergies only affect around 5% of the population, the figures are much higher among health care workers and people with chronic medical conditions. Repeated exposure to latex can cause you to develop a sensitivity, so you’re more likely to have an allergic reaction to disposable gloves if you often use or touch them.

Given this danger, it’s understandable that many people look for other options. Most employers keep at least 2 different glove types available to accommodate allergies. Many have moved away from latex products completely.

The Best Alternatives to Latex Gloves

If you are looking for a latex alternative, there are a few good choices. The most popular substitutes are nitrile gloves and vinyl gloves. Both types of latex-free gloves can make your work easier, safer, and more comfortable.

Nitrile Disposable Gloves

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber that is made by combining acrylonitrile and butadiene. The end product, also known as nitrile butadiene rubber, contains no natural rubber latex. It's almost entirely hypoallergenic, making it an excellent alternative for anyone with a latex allergy.

While they're not quite as elastic as latex, nitrile gloves conform quite well to your hands as your body heat warms them up. They let you maintain your ability to feel and grip objects, and they have good flexibility.

Nitrile gloves also provide the best level of protection from punctures, which makes them the best choice for medical and safety situations. These tough, durable gloves are also frequently used in the auto and oil industries.

Benefits of Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile disposable gloves are comfortable to wear, and they are resistant to punctures and chemicals, making them great for physically demanding day-to-day jobs. They are not as highly recommended for situations requiring a high level of precision like working with small objects.

Pros of Nitrile Gloves:

• Totally latex-free
• FDA-approved for use in healthcare settings
• Strong and durable
• Molds to the hand for a good fit
• Puncture-resistant
• Resistant to many chemicals, including oils, solvents, and some organic acids
• High level of sensitivity and have a long shelf life
• Come in blue or black colors to see punctures more easily

Cons of Nitrile Gloves:

• Non-biodegradable
• Costly compared to latex gloves
• Less elastic than latex

Vinyl Disposable Gloves

Vinyl (AKA polyvinyl chloride or PVC) is a type of plastic. Like nitrile, it's a completely synthetic material that contains no latex. Disposable vinyl gloves are inexpensive but not as durable as nitrile, and they don’t offer as tight a fit. Restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels frequently use vinyl gloves to help avoid cross-contamination.

Benefits of Vinyl Gloves

Vinyl gloves are excellent whenever you need an affordable barrier layer that can be swapped out quickly. They are reasonably effective at protecting the wearer from the spread of disease and contamination from human skin.

On the other hand, vinyl gloves have poor elasticity and don't conform well to your hands. That makes them easy to change out quickly, but can increase the chances of skin irritation as they bunch up.

Vinyl gloves are a good choice for light duty jobs like changing bed linens, food prep, and cleaning surfaces. The low cost makes them ideal for the food industry as well.

Pros of Vinyl Gloves:

• Latex-free
• Anti-static
• Smooth and comfortable surface
• Ideal for brief, light-to-medium duty applications, and low-risk tasks
• Lower-price latex glove alternative with a long shelf life

Cons of Vinyl Gloves:

• Non-biodegradable
• Weak elasticity
• Less comfortable
• Less protection against infections
• Poor chemical resistance
• Meant for short-term use
• Fit loosely

Can Latex-Free Gloves Cause Allergic Reactions?

Though gloves made of synthetic materials are far less likely to trigger your immune system than natural latex, vinyl or nitrile glove allergies aren’t unheard of. For example, some people can have an allergic reaction to bisphenol and benzisothiazolinone, both of which are used in vinyl glove production. These added ingredients are used to soften the texture, but can cause dermatitis.

Other potentially irritating substances include:

• Thiruams
• Mercaptobenzothiazole
• Diphenylguanidine
• Zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate
• Dithiocarbamates

In other cases, a type of skin rash called contact urticaria can develop due to the buildup of moisture and heat inside the glove. The best way to prevent this is to change gloves at least every few hours, washing your hands thoroughly in between pairs.

What Are the Best Latex Gloves Alternatives?

So, should you choose nitrile or vinyl when you're looking for alternatives to latex gloves? It may depend on what you need them for.

If you work in healthcare or deal with patients on a daily basis, you are more susceptible to infections and diseases that can be passed on through bodily fluids like blood, saliva, and even urine. Nitrile is a better choice than vinyl in this case because it's less porous and harder to tear. Nitrile gloves might also be a better choice for people in industrial settings where chemical and puncture resistance matter a great deal.

Both nitrile and vinyl work great for businesses like restaurants, beauty salons, and childcare facilities. In these lower-risk settings, vinyl disposable gloves could have the edge due to their low cost and high flexibility.

Our Recommendation: Nitrile Gloves

After considering all the pros mentioned above, we are recommending nitrile disposable gloves as the best option for people with latex allergies.

Nitrile is superior to vinyl in every way that matters. It is more comfortable, shields you from chemicals and bacteria, and is better at resisting punctures. Unless you're in a situation where protection matters very little and price matters a lot, you're usually better off with nitrile.

Latex Gloves Alternatives Summary

In short, both nitrile gloves and vinyl gloves are excellent choices as an alternative to latex gloves. This is great news if you have a latex allergy! These latex-free gloves are safe and effective in protecting you from harmful bacteria and viruses, and they offer many additional benefits.

One more thing, did you know we have a full selection of latex gloves, nitrile gloves, and vinyl gloves at unbeatable prices? We are your resource for the ultimate in savings and superior hand protection.

Now back to you, what is your favorite latex-free glove alternative?