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Turns Out You Don’t Have to Wear Protective Gloves When Out in Public – This Is When You Need to Wear Them

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COVID-19 | When Do You Actually Need to Wear Gloves? — Since the start of the current global pandemic, many have resorted to wearing protective measures when in public spaces. These include wearing protective face masks and gloves.

Curious to as to whether wearing gloves are actually needed to help combat the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus, we reached out to Dr. Rahul Chaudhary, the specialist dermatologist at Medcare Medical Centre – Discovery Garden.

During our interview, Dr. Chaudhary shared a number of interesting facts and points to consider. These include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovery that, contrary to popular belief, found that gloves are not required when in public spaces. The CDC added that gloves are only needed when cleaning or disinfecting home or caring for someone who is sick.

The study conducted by the CDC added that the most effective means of reducing the risk of catching the COVID-19 virus is by maintaining a strict social distancing of two meters, routinely and thoroughly washing your hands with soap or sanitizer that has an alcohol percentage of at least 60 percent. Protective face masks have also been proven to be essential in reducing the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.

"When it comes to protective measures, many people still opt to wear gloves – as an added precaution. This is fine when done right," explains Dr. Chaudhary. Who adds that the prolonged use of gloves can lead to development of rashes, eczema, dermatitis, as well as bacterial and fungal infections.

When it comes to gloves, Dr. Chaudhary has a few tips to help prevent the potential side-effects associated with wearing them.

What Glove Material Is Best?
When it comes to gloves, latex is the best. "It provides the best over-all protection and is easily accessible," explains Dr. Chaudhary. If you are allergic to latex, however, Dr. Chaudhary suggests wearing either nitrile or vinyl gloves.
Pre-Glove Safety Measures
Before wearing your gloves, wash or sanitize your hands. Doing so will ensure that any harmful bacteria or fungus is removed and not allowed to incubate for prolonged periods.
Pro-longed Glove Usage
If you're expecting to wear your latex gloves for longer than 30 minutes, Dr. Chaudhary suggests wearing a well-fitted cotton glove beneath, as it reduces the chance of irritation, caused by sweat.
Keep Your Hands Off of Your Face
"Much like when you touch your face with your hands, gloves have the same ability to transfer not only the COVID-19 virus but also harmful bacteria and fungus," reveals Dr. Chaudhary.
How to Best Dispose of Your Latex Gloves
Dr. Chaudhary states that it is best to dispose of your latex gloves before entering your home, as it reduces the chance of potentially introducing the virus to it.
The Importance of Hand Moisturizers
Constant handwashing and sanitizing will cause the skin on your hands to dry and crack over time. To combat this, moisturize your hands regularly with urea-based repair creams. Dr. Chaudhary suggests being mindful of the number of times you wash or sanitize your hands if you experience allergies as a result of excessive glove use. He also recommends treating mild allergies with thick, rich cream-based hand moisturizers, as well as using cortisone-based cream for a few days. However, if your allergies are moderate or severe, Dr. Chaudhary stresses that a consultation with your dermatologist is required.
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