Working in an industrial area where you have to wear gloves presents an issue. While you have to protect your hands from damage, you still need products that make them feel good. A glove that provides moisture and is an anti-allergen, anti-irritant and antiperspirant allows your hands to have the best defense against dermatitis damage and potential damage from exposure to chemicals.
Here is a little more information about the unsung heroes of hand protection and what you need to know about wearing gloves and protecting your skin at the same time.
Many workers who wear protective gloves face problems like sweating and skin irritation. This makes the gloves uncomfortable, can affect your work performance and also presents a situation where wearing the gloves is not something that you want to do. Then, you are either in violation of compliance or it presents a danger in your work area.
What you need is hand protection that has, at the very least, the following advantages:
- Protection against allergens
- A physical barrier that blocks skin irritants like acidic and alkaline substances
- Reduce moisture loss from the skin
- Reduce sweating
- Has skin care ingredients like emollients, conditioners and moisture-binding ingredients
One such skin care protector is Stokoderm Grip Pure. It has all of the above benefits, plus it contains Eucoriol, which is a component that works to strengthen and tighten the skin at the upper layer, so that when working in damp conditions the skin has less swelling and is more resistant to abrasion.
Wearing gloves is necessary in some workplace situations, but your hands may feel the effects of not using hand protection, in addition to gloves. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, using a protective cream reduces skin issues, but it also does more than that. It helps minimize the contact with UV rays and contaminants. It also makes washing your hands faster and easier.
The lotions and creams that you use along with gloves strengthen the skin and provide that protective layer.
A few things you should look for in hand protection is:
- Free of dyes and colors
- Suitable for the face
- Environmentally certified
- Ideal for those who suffer from allergies and skin that is prone to eczema
- Compatible for workers in the food industry
- Free of silicone
- Glove/PPE compatible
- Perfume free
Glove Use and Hand Protection
Gloves are important to protect your hands when working, but they can also contribute to skin problems; which when combined with other stress factors can escalate problems. For instance, contact with irritants, or having to wash your hands frequently, may contribute to work-related dermatitis.
However, prevention is less costly to employers and it is easier to prevent these problems then it is to take care of it after it happens.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "dermatitis is responsible for 50 percent of all industrial illnesses that result in lost work time". And in another study, it shows that occupational dermatitis is responsible for an average of almost 24 days of disability and $3500 in workers' compensation claims.
When protective gloves are combined with a comprehensive skin care approach, the results are far more promising. There is a three-part approach that includes:
- Protect. Use protective creams before work to help minimize contact with contaminants and make cleansing an easier task
- Cleanse. Make sure to clean your hands as soon as possible when work has exposed you to contaminants
- Condition. This includes creams that are restorative in nature, so that you can help skin that is stressed from working conditions and work to nourish and restore it
Hand Protection Provides Extra Benefits
Another great thing about hand protection when you wear gloves is that in the event that the glove is penetrated, the hand protection may provide a little extra protection for your hands. You do have to choose what kind of hand protection is best, depending on what type of work you do and what kinds of contaminants you may be exposed to; similar to choosing a glove.
For example, if you are working with hazards that are water-based, you should use a cream that is oil-based. If you are working with hazards that are petroleum-based, then water-based creams are what you should choose.
You should also take care to use hand protection at the appropriate time during your work day. For instance, apply hand protection before work begins. Say you are using cutting oil; it won't help if you put on hand protection after the work begins and the cutting oil has already penetrated the skin. You should also make sure to apply any hand protection onto clean hands, so always wash them first before applying your protection and donning gloves.
Keep in mind that unprotected skin has increased risk of damage due to cracks, cuts or nicks. Plus, when the upper layer of the skin has been damaged, it is more prone to chemicals being able to penetrate lower layers; causing more damage than usual.
While you already know how important it is to protect your hands, hopefully this gives you more information. Gloves, in tandem with hand protection, are your best defense to ensure you keep your hands as safe as possible.
