Latex manufacturers changed the methods of processing latex. As a result of the increased demand for latex gloves and other products, manufacturers have taken short cuts to process latex. Background on Latex Latex is a natural rubber that is processed from the sap of the hevea brasiliensis rubber tree found in Africa and Southeast Asia. Latex is composed of various chemicals but the proteins contained in the rubber are responsible for causing the more serious allergic reactions. Some of the other chemicals used in processing latex, however, may irritate the skin but are not the cause of the more serious health problems associated with latex.
Synthetic rubber poses no hazard to latex-sensitive individuals.
For example, using antiseptics or continually washing and drying the hands with detergents and soaps after wearing gloves may dry out the skin. Powders or other lubricants that make gloves easier to put on may irritate the skin. Sweating or rubbing under the gloves may also contribute to skin irritation. Typical symptoms include redness, swelling, dryness, cracking, scaling, and blistering. Wearing cotton liners underneath gloves may help to prevent irritant contact dermatitis.