WORK GLOVES

We chose to test a range of work gloves, ranging from the cheap and cheerful to the fashionable and the heatproof. All of them are breathable, which saved on sweaty palms, but the thicker material makes them more difficult to use than nitrile gloves on delicate jobs or where you are needing to ‘feel’ your way with your fingertips.

We decided to include breathable work gloves after speaking with skincare specialists at Swarfega, who said: “Gloves are a great barrier, but when they are worn for long periods of time this barrier can also be the cause of some serious skin complaints. In normal conditions, moisture passes through the skin and into the environment and, in doing so, helps to regulate the temperature of the body. When wearing disposable protective gloves, this moisture is trapped against the skin and can cause it to soften and become wrinkled, like when skin is soaked in water for a period of time. This can weaken the skin and, if this happens regularly, can cause disorders such as dermatitis. Gloves can also trap bacteria against the skin in a warm, moist environment that is often ideal for their growth. If there are any small cuts on the skin under the gloves, these cuts can quickly become painfully infected and can impact on the person’s ability to work safely.”

Their advice is to use a protective cream before wearing such gloves, remove them regularly to allow the skin to dry out, use a suitable washing product and apply a moisturiser, and interestingly, do not reuse disposable gloves!