Nitrile vs. Latex Gloves: Main Differences?
11 April 2022
From what hazards do nitrile gloves protect you?
11 May 2022The importance of hand hygiene in dental healthcare workers.
Practicing hand hygiene is a simple yet effective way to prevent infections. Cleaning your hands and using protective gloves can prevent the spread of germs, including those that are resistant to antibiotics and are becoming difficult, if not impossible, to treat. Occupational skin conditions, particularly contact dermatitis, are common among healthcare workers and account for 90-95% of all cases of occupational skin conditions. There are two main types of contact dermatitis: irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
What are irritant contact and allergic contact dermatitis?
Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is a non-immune response and a disorder that affects the skin, so it is not an allergy. ACD, on the other hand, is a T cell-mediated allergic response that is often described as a Type IV chemical allergy and is specific to chemical residues.
Causes of allergic contact dermatitis
Common causes of allergic contact dermatitis include chemicals found in rubber, leather, and dyes. More than 4,000 chemicals have been identified as contact allergens. The Boudinar et al (2021) report says that "Dental workers, i.e. dentists, as well as dental assistants, hygienists, and technicians, are exposed to a plethora of occupational allergens daily." Frequent use of gloves has led to the incidence of occupational contact dermatitis or adverse skin conditions among healthcare workers. These include allergies and other sensitizations, and often the specific cause may be unknown.
ACD from chemical rubber accelerators has been a major cause of occupational ACD for many years, especially among dental professionals, but rest assured, our disposable nitrile glove formula prevents allergic reactions, so when you buy our medical exam gloves, you should not be worried about it. Explore the options we offer to protect you from ACD.
Historically, little attention has been paid to dermatitis in professional dental settings. Increasing awareness of hand health risks among dental professionals and evaluating the appropriate medical-grade gloves can help treat and minimize allergic contact dermatitis in dentistry.