5 OF THE BEST MEDICAL GLOVES
GLOVES can do a lot more than keep hands warm. We asked experts to select the best ‘medical’ options.
FOR: DRY SKIN
Granberg bamboo eczema gloves, £7.50, amazon.co.uk
‘THESE soft gloves are ideal for those who have eczema and find themselves scratching,’ says Dr Anton Alexandroff, a consultant dermatologist. ‘Scratching can make sore, dry and cracked skin worse — and lead to infection — and these can stop you doing that.
‘The gloves will also keep moisturiser on your hands for longer.’
FOR: WRIST PROBLEMS
Actesso black elastic wrist splint, £9.99, amazon.co.uk
‘THIS support claims to help with wristrelated issues including carpal tunnel syndrome,’ says Maxim Horwitz, a consultant hand surgeon at The Wellington Hospital in London.
‘Carpal tunnel is where the median nerve [that gives feeling to the thumb and index finger] is compressed where it passes through a short tunnel at the wrist joint, causing swelling and pain in the hand.
‘A splint like this will help, as it restricts wrist movement — but don’t wear it all the time.’
FOR: ARTHRITIS Imak arthritis gloves, £28.99, stressnomore.co.uk
MR HORWITZ says: ‘An important aspect of managing arthritis in the hands, where the cartilage of joints has thinned, causing pain and swelling, is strengthening the muscles around the joint while supporting it.
‘A glove like this can do that. It is made from cotton and Lycra, so it applies gentle compression to keep your hands warm and encourage blood flow.’
FOR: POOR CIRCULATION
Raynaud’s deluxe silver gloves, £20.99, raynaudsdisease.com
‘RAYNAUD’S is where a drop in temperature causes blood vessels in the fingers and toes to contract, cutting off blood supply, triggering numbness and pain,’ says Dr Rod Hughes, a consultant rheumatologist at St Peter’s Hospital in Surrey.
‘These thick, insulated gloves are stretchable so they fit snugly, and have silver threads woven into the fabric, which make them warmer.’
FOR: CHEMOTHERAPY Elasto-Gel hot and cold therapy mitts, £229.99, livebetterwith.com
‘CHEMOTHERAPY works by attacking rapidly dividing cells, which — as well as cancer cells — includes those in hair, nails and those lining the gut,’ says Tina Glynn, a cancer nurse at the Breast Cancer Haven charity. ‘This can lead to discoloured fingernails with ugly ridges. Nails can even fall off.
‘Some people dip their hands into iced water during chemotherapy, which they say helps to preserve the nails. These gloves are another way of achieving the same effect.’