Have you walked through the hand protection isle at your pharmacy, supermarket, or medical supply store, and seen several different types of disposable gloves? You might have thought to yourself, “What’s the difference, gloves are gloves, right?” Not exactly. Believe it or not, there is a huge variety of gloves made for different tasks and industries. This article will examine some of the most common disposable gloves, describing how they are made and what they are used for. This may even change the way that you shop for disposable gloves.

Latex Gloves

Latex gloves are an extremely popular choice for hand protection and are often “medical grade” (meaning they can be used in hospital and laboratory settings). Latex gloves are made from a strong, but flexible, rubber. These gloves provide good protection, while allowing for flexibility of movement.

Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are also a popular choice, and are also medical grade. You will find nitrile exam gloves at just about every hospital and doctor’s office in the U.S. They tend to be more puncture resistant than latex gloves, but they don’t offer the same flexibility. One huge potential advantage that nitrile gloves have over latex is that they do not cause the same allergic reaction. Some people, though not all, are allergic to latex. If you happen to be allergic to latex, then nitrile gloves are your best alternative.

Vinyl Gloves

Vinyl gloves are not medical grade, but they are a very popular choice for those in the food industry. In fact, this is the standard glove for food prep. Why? They are much looser and more comfortable than latex or vinyl gloves. This is important for workers who need to perform repeated difficult hand maneuvers, such as chopping and slicing. They offer enough protection to keep customers safe, while also allowing food service workers to do their jobs unimpeded.

Powder-Free Gloves

For a long time, powders were added to disposable gloves (especially latex and nitrile gloves) to make them easier to put on and take off. While his was very convenient for the wearer, studies revealed that many people had allergic reactions to this powder. For this reason, the FDA recently prohibited the use of powdered gloves in medical settings. This is why we recommend that you buy gloves from a company that sells powder-free gloves, especially if you are purchasing gloves for a hospital or laboratory.

Industries That Use Disposable Gloves

Disposable gloves are not just used for the medical and food service industries. In fact, many industries use disposable gloves for protection. Tattoo artists wear them to protect themselves and their clients. Police officers and EMTs also wear disposable gloves in order to protect themselves from germs and needles. Workers in the auto industry wear disposable gloves to protect themselves from hot oil and other damaging products. In addition, you can find disposable gloves in dental settings, veterinary settings, and even industrial settings. If you need to keep your hands protected, disposable gloves are essential.