Read this guide to get a clear comparison of powder free latex gloves and other types of gloves.

Powder-free latex gloves large are mainly found in healthcare facilities and foodservice industries. The demand for these gloves is always increasing especially during the Covid19 pandemic.

Disposable gloves protect the hands of your employees from contaminants and harmful chemicals. They also prevent cross-contamination and help your employees practice proper hygiene when handling food. Read on to know more about latex and get a comparison with other types of gloves.

What is latex?

Latex is a mix of compounds and proteins that is found naturally in some trees and plants. The latex starts out in liquid form but it is eventually turned into a rubber material that has a lot of different uses in different industries. Synthetic latex is different from natural latex. Synthetic latex is made from chemicals and is typically used to make things like paints and so on.

Uses of latex

Latex is used to make a lot of common items such as medical equipment, disposable gloves, shoes, balloons, tires and rubber toys. You can find latex products in a lot of settings and it is common in the food industry as well as the dental and medical fields.

Latex allergy

When someone has a reaction to natural latex, they are said to have an allergy to natural latex. There are different types of allergies and some people have serious medical issues while others have mild reactions when they get into contact with latex. It is therefore important to be very careful when it comes to using latex products are people with allergies to latex. Powdered latex is banned by the FDA in dental and medical fields because it can have severe negative effects on patients if they are allergic to latex.

Powder-free vs. powdered gloves

Latex gloves exist in two main forms – powder-free latex gloves and powdered forms. Each of these types has got its own cons and pros and is ideal for different situations.

Powdered latex gloves

These are gloves that have a powder on the inside. The powder makes it easy to wear the gloves and prevents latex from sticking on the hands of the user. This is ideal if your employees are constantly wearing and removing their gloves or replacing them with a new pair. The powder inside the powdered latex gloves is corn-starch. It prevents irritation unlike previous types of powder used in gloves. In addition to making the gloves easier to wear and remove, the powder also keeps the hands of the staff members comfortable and dry. This type of glove is also more resistant to rips and tears than powder-free gloves.

Powder-free gloves

After the FDA banned the use of powdered latex gloves, powder-free latex gloveslarge have become more prevalent in the dental and medical industry and they are common in foodservice settings. Powder-free gloves do not leave messy residue on your equipment or hands, this is essential in the foodservice industry. Additionally, new types of powder-free gloves are easy to wear and this makes them a great replacement for powdered gloves.