Sarah
The first thing I would do is to carry out some skin hydration measurements,
i.e.
- before donning gloves
- at 5 minute intervals for about 20 minutes
Do this with her without and with cotton liners (of course allowing her skin
to return to the base line measurement before doing the second series)
This will give you some proper information on what is really happening.
All hands will develop hyperhydration when occlusive gloves are worn and
there is no glove that will offer her the level of protection against
chemicals that will not cause hyperhydration. A lower than normal skin
hydration level is indicative of sub-clinical irritant skin damage and could
be part of the problem.
The term 'sweat' is often used with gloves when really what is happening is
that water being lost through the skin (transepidermal water loss, not
sweat) is being reabsorbed into the skin. One can measure trans-epidermal
water loss and if hers were to be high, then this could indicate a higher
than normal hyperhydration. It would also indicate poor barrier function,
perhaps an indication of some other problem with her skin.
Any questions on this feel free to give me a call.
Chris
Chris Packham
FRSPH, FIIRSM, FInstSMM, MCMI, MBICSc
EnviroDerm Services
Unit 10, Building 11, The Mews, Mitcheldean, GL17 0SN
Tel: 01386 832 311
Mobile: 07818 035 898
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