Why Gloves Are Making Your Hands Dry — and What to Do About It
If your job requires wearing gloves all day, chances are your hands are feeling it. Cracked knuckles, flaky skin, and that tight, itchy sensation are all-too-common for healthcare workers, cleaners, and others who rely on personal protective equipment (PPE). While essential for safety, gloves — especially when paired with frequent handwashing — can wreak havoc on your skin. So, what’s really going on? Gloves create a warm, moist environment that traps sweat against the skin. Over time, this breaks down your skin’s natural barrier, leading to dryness and irritation. Add constant handwashing or alcohol-based sanitiser use, and you’re stripping away the skin’s protective oils even more. And if you’re using latex gloves , the material itself may be triggering allergic reactions or sensitivities. The result? Itchy, flaky, or red skin that’s painful and prone to cracks — sometimes even rashes or infection. What can you do? Start with prevention. Use a barrier cream before putting on glo...