Acute symptoms of extreme itching, erythema and blisters are common. As lesions heal, cracking, crusting and peeling skin may occur on the affected areas. Certain chemicals, such as methyl methacrylates which are used in dentistry and orthopedics, can penetrate the gloves. These should be considered a cause of dermatitis if evaluation does not reveal allergy to rubber chemical or latex. The third type of reaction is urticaria.
Reactions can range from mild and localized to generalized anaphylaxis.
Symptoms can appear within minutes or take up to an hour before they manifest. Localization of symptoms is dependent upon the route of exposure, the degree of allergic sensitivity, and the differences between the allergic potential of different organs. Skin that has been in contact with the latex product is usually the first to be affected, and sometimes nasal, ocular and pulmonary symptoms follow. The gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems are less often affected. Contact urticaria was the first reported manifestation of immediate latex allergy.