Rubber-glove Dermatitis

Abstract

Eczema of the hands is a chronic condition the aetiology of which is often obscure, the prognosis uncertain, and treatment largely palliative. Some cases, however, can be traced to allergic contact sensitivity, and in these the outlook is greatly improved, for a specific cause may be found and removed. Leider et al. (1952), investigating 124 cases of sensitivity to rubber articles, found that 17 of them were due to gloves, while Sidi and Hincky (1954) were able to collect as many as 102 cases of rubber-glove dermatitis, most of them being caused by red household gloves. Bonnevie and Marcussen (1944) found that allergy to rubber accounted for 2 % of all their cases of sensitivity eczema.