Each type of glove has specific directions for efficacy and safety. Most are recommended for eight-hour wear. Keeping them on longer can have side effects. “Too much compression can worsen underlying poor circulation,” says Siddharth Tambar, MD, a rheumatologist at Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine. “I would not recommend it for any conditions resulting in skin breakdown or poor blood flow. I would recommend against use if pain worsens with usage.” There are additional conditions, especially those related to circulation problems, that don’t pair well with arthritis gloves. “A physician must be consulted about wearing gloves if an individual has circulation problems, a condition called Raynaud’s disease where there is constriction of the blood vessels, and carpal tunnel syndrome, which can be seen in people with diabetes, thyroid disease, and rheumatoid arthritis,” says Magdalena Cadet, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and rheumatologist at NYU Langone.