Eczema Gloves: Everything you need to know

If your head is spinning because you or your little one is struggling with eczema, perhaps night time scratching is out of control, or you just want a way to protect your body from the wayward advances of pincer-like nails, then I have taken the hard work out of your search because here I give you an honest eczema gloves review. Why? Because I’d really ‘glove’ to help you.

You may have at this point resorted to a backlog of measures to try to stop the incessant and often unconscious scratch monster, and speaking from my personal experience, woolly gloves secured on with a yard of packing tape is literally just a mild inconvenience when it’s time to succumb to the itch.

The problem when gloving-up is that out of desperation, we can jump in to the first set of gloves we find without realizing that all gloves are not made equal.

WHY ECZEMA GLOVES?

Our hands are quite the double edge sword. Whether brushing our hair or scratching that ‘oh my god, it’s almost healed’ eczema, they are there for the long haul and there’s no getting rid of them!

Because most of our scratching happens unconsciously, unless you have super-human mind control, we are going to tear up our skin like it’s a dance floor and Funky Town just started playing. Essentially, we are fighting a real battle.

Eczema on the hands is extremely common due to the fact that they are exposed to the most amounts of damage, friction, and environmental irritants on a daily basis. For those susceptible, the hands are the first place eczema can show up.

Using gloves to cover the hands and wrists of this delicate skin is an ingenious idea and thankfully the technology going in to their design has come a long way. So, here are some of the reasons eczema gloves can be a great tool for many people suffering from this condition:

  When your ointment du jour is applied to the hands, covering them with eczema gloves will not only help the cream sit on the skin for better and long lasting hydration, but it can also help keep it there instead of rubbing off during use.

  Protection. This includes protection for your hands as well as the rest of your body because literally no place is safe as long as you can get at ‘em! Cutting the nails is important of course, but adding that extra layer of protection using eczema gloves adds yet another conscious and unconscious barrier.

  Eczema itches like gang of mosquitos just made a lunch out of you, stole your car, and dumped it in the river. Basically, any relief is welcome relief and for some people, gloves for eczema can provide a certain level of comfort.

Children and infants are unfortunately unable to understand, and thus control, their scratching habits which often exacerbates childhood eczema. So, for the above reasons, many parents have found respite and even improvement in their children’s eczema from using eczema gloves.
 

REVIEW TIME

During my research, I was amazed to find the amount of eczema gloves out there were so varied! So, in order to provide the full service, I will list the 4 main types of gloves being sold for eczema today along with their pros and cons, and a link to follow for you to check them out for yourselves.

I will also include some helpful hints at the end if you are going to use gloves for your eczema.

BAMBOO GLOVES FOR ECZEMA

Imagining such a hard and rugged plant against my fragile skin is legitimately unappealing to me, but it seems we are living in the future. Bamboo is now becoming the material of choice not only because of it's sustainability and eco-friendliness, but it makes a really, really comfortable fabric!
With this in mind, here are some of the reasons for and against bamboo gloves for eczema.

PROS

  This fibre is strong; therefor it is said to have a longer lifespan than other fabric types.

  While being strong, it is actually softer to the touch than cotton and feels gentle on sensitive eczema skin.

  Naturally hypoallergenic and anti-microbial (as long as it’s not processed using the viscose method), bamboo gloves give an added protection against unwanted bacteria, thus reducing the likelihood of infection and further irritation.

  Bamboo fabric is thermo-regulating and breathable which can be helpful in warmer months.

  Bamboo itself is naturally pest-resistant so should come with little to no added pesticides or herbicides.

  When blended with silk (preferably grown without unwanted chemicals), the fabric becomes even more comfortable.

  Bamboo grows FAST, is self-replenishing, and requires less water to grow. While this doesn’t relate to eczema, the sustainability of this product is still a positive overall.

  While not as cheap as cotton gloves for eczema, bamboo gloves are still reasonably priced and sit somewhere in the middle between other eczema glove types.

CONS

  Of the bamboo fabric which is processed using the viscose method (there are quite a few), the anti-microbial properties can be reduced or potentially even lost.

  While most of the sources I found maintain that bamboo is stronger than cotton, some say that bamboo fabric is not as durable. This may be manufacturer specific, but I wanted to mention it here anyway.

Check out these options: 
You can find some well reviewed products for adults from The Eczema Company and for children from Amazon and The Eczema Company.

COTTON GLOVES FOR ECZEMA

Next on the list are the more well-known cotton gloves for eczema, and they’re probably the first thing that comes to mind to most parents completely drained from the constant battle of keeping their child comfortable.

Cotton gloves for eczema have been the staple since I was a child… and without revealing all, let’s just assume that was a verrrry long time ago!

PROS
  Cotton gloves for so many people are still comfortable and do a great job. While the gold standard may have shifted towards bamboo, cotton still remains the most used product on the market.

  The cost for cotton gloves is usually fairly low, so having a few pairs on standby is less likely to break the bank.

  The processing of cotton is actually less energy and water hungry than that of bamboo, and again, from a sustainability point of view is worth knowing.

  There are lots of manufacturers selling organic cotton gloves for eczema, and although they can still come with ‘certified’ chemicals, they are generally better overall than non-organic.

CONS

  A lot of cotton gloves on the market are very low quality and can be counter-productive by wicking too much moisture and eczema lotion away from the skin.

  Not as anti-microbial or breathable as bamboo.

  The cotton industry is not as sustainable as bamboo overall and the majority is manufactured using heavy pesticides.

You can go here to find cotton gloves for Adults and Children. 

DERMASILK GLOVES FOR ECZEMA

Dermasilk Gloves use a unique blend of materials targeted at contact dermatitis as well as atopic dermatitis. There are some interesting examples of before and after cases to be found online, but let’s get to the breakdown.

PROS

  DermaSilk fibres are knitted in an open weave which allows for better air flow than other fabrics including standard silk. This helps regulate temperature for comfort during warmer months or for those who sweat excessively.

  Offering fingerless gloves so activities during the day can be performed easier.

  A rearward cuff is fitted to certain products to avoid potential friction on the wrists.

  The hygroscopic (yes, I had to Google it) function of this fabric helps maintain moisture on the hands. So, alongside it's breathable weaving, this strikes a potentially very comfortable eczema glove.

  Anti-microbial protection to help keep the skin free from unwanted bacteria.

  A form fitting ‘second skin’, DermaSilk gloves are said to be easy to wear and function day-to-day activities.

  Fingerless options available.

CONS
Because they aren’t a very common product circling the eczema communities, there was very little in the way of reviews to draw on for negative feedback, there for I could only derive the following:

  The price is generally a fair bit higher than bamboo or cotton gloves.

  While still comfortable, silk products are still said to not feel as soft as bamboo does.

There are other silk gloves for eczema on the market, but I only listed the DermaSilk brand simply as there appears to more suitable science behind the design for eczema. DermaSilk also offer a clothing range in this same fabric to help eczema and other skin issues, just in case you were wondering 🙂

You can click here to find DermaSilk Gloves for Adults and Children. 

MOISTURIZING GLOVES FOR ECZEMA

When you see the name “Moisturizing Gloves”, it may be referring to one of two things;

Any glove like I’ve shown in the rest of this article because if it can cover the hand to prevent moisture loss, then it can technically be called a moisturising glove.

OR

Gloves which come infused with a moisturising agent such as gel or essential oils.

The little rascals I want to talk about here are the gloves that come pre-embedded with a moisturiser. To my amazement, I had no idea these types of gloves even existed, let alone intended for people with hand eczema. So, let’s investigate!

PROS

  Already infused with various natural and (hopefully) beneficial oils to help moisten the hands without applying a cream of your own. In short, it is convenient.

  With a fabric outer layer and a moisturizing inner layer, the outside is kept dry so there’s little chance of leaving hand prints on your surroundings.

  Many brands use cotton fabrics as their base, which can be an added comfort level over using more synthetic material.

  The gel lining of these gloves hold the beneficial ingredients against the skin. So, rather than normal moisturizers absorbing fairly quickly, these will remain on the skin for as long as you wear them.

  Fingerless options available.

CONS

  Because you have no control over the ingredients in these gloves, if your skin doesn’t tolerate any of the additives, then there is potential for an allergic reaction. Big time counter-productive!

  Although cool when worn briefly, longer periods can cause the hands to overheat which may lead to sweating and irritation.

  The fragrance from some these additives can be very strong to those sensitive.

Click here to find some moisturizing Fingerless and Full Gloves.

PROTEX GLOVES FOR ECZEMA

Protex gloves are also another lesser known glove on the market, but because they are targeted at eczema (as well as many other conditions), I wanted to do a bit of digging and see just what they’re all about!

PROS

  Designed with a blend of materials which make them stretchy and form-fitting, protex gloves seem to fit snug to the shape of the hand helping make everyday tasks easier to manage. Fantastic if you spend a lot of time in the sun or for gardening, house work, or other such duties.

  Fingerless options available to give protection to the hands, wrists, and forearms so daily functions are made that bit easier.

  Water resistant (while purported to still be breathable) and rugged so dirt, as well as other harmful irritants, have a real hard time getting past this barrier.

  Made to be durable, these gloves may outlast other more delicate glove types.

  Made with a 50+ UPF rating, this is good for those who want to avoid exposure to the sun.

  They sit at around a similar price as bamboo gloves (not as cheap as cotton).

CONS

  Said to help people with issues of cold hands, I feel this is a downside for certain people with eczema who struggle when they get hot. Of course this is a plus if heat helps your skin, but for those who become itchier, there is a potential for irritation if the fabric doesn’t breathe adequately.

  The 50+ UPF rating is good for those who want to avoid the sun, however sunlight in moderation is said to deliver many important benefits to the immune system and skin of an individual. So, for this reason, I feel it is a con for eczema (unless light sensitive). *My opinion*

  If you have eczema on your fingertips, then these gloves may be uncomfortable as there are two seams which run along each fingertip. If you can live without fingertips however, then the finger-less gloves would be the remedy OR turn 'em inside out!

You can check out Protex gloves here: Fingerless or 3/4 Finger Gloves

HELPFUL HINTS:

If there is an inside seam and as long as the outside is smooth and seam-free, you can to turn them inside-out so there is nothing to rub against the fingers.

While performing wet tasks, protect your gloves and skin from dirt, dust, and chemicals by covering them up with a pair of first aid gloves (the thinner they are, the more movement you have).

Regularly wash your eczema gloves, but be sure to wash with a gentle, dye and fragrance free product.

If wearing eczema gloves when bathing, cover with waterproof vinyl or first aid gloves and secure them closed with a rubber band at the bottom around the wrist or forearm to help keep water out.

If wearing waterproof/first aid gloves directly on the hands, then try to avoid wearing them for any longer than 15 to 20 minutes to avoid irritation.

If buying eczema gloves for children or babies, make sure you get the sizing right first. Also, be careful with any Velcro or rough areas on the outside as these can be abrasive to delicate skin when they try to scratch other areas of their body.

CONCLUSION

The take home message is that eczema gloves do seem to provide some comfort and relief to many adults and children. So, while they may not be the cure, as long as they are helping some people feel better, then they are alright in my book!