Fortunately, there are safe substitutes to latex gloves, and many body art establishments are starting to realize the need to switch over for their own, and their customer’s, safety. If you have a rubber allergy, you may need to experiment with several different materials and brands to find one that you don’t have a reaction to. Most artists who have switched to latex-free gloves seem to prefer Nitrile. This comparison chart (pdf) lists the different materials used to make non-latex gloves and how they measure up.
Pat Fish, one of the world’s most talented Celtic tattoo artists, is also a victim of latex hypersensitivity, which at one point prevented her from being able to attend tattoo conventions. She eventually found ways to make accommodations, such as asking for a booth space near the front door, for instance, so she is in a stream of fresh air, not in a cloud of latex dust. She wrote a great article about her personal experience with the allergy, which was published in a 1999 issue of Skin & Ink Magazine.
Comparing Apples to Apples
In her article, Pat explains that not all Nitrile gloves are created equal. She states, “I emailed all forty companies I could find on the web who listed themselves as suppliers of Nitrile. I asked them all for samples. Nine replied, and…of the few who did send samples, not all of them were identified as medical quality. Beware what may seem like a good price on nitrile, because if the glove is not clearly marked for EXAM use it may be industrial or food industry grade and NOT have the FDA class one medical device 510K status. No gloves are actually ‘approved’ by the FDA, but to be labeled exam quality they must pass more stringent quality control testing.”
What to Do if You Have Latex Hypersensitivity
If you think you have a latex allergy, the first thing you need to do is get a positive diagnosis from your doctor. Once you have been accurately diagnosed, you will need to:
- Learn as much about the condition as possible, knowing what can trigger symptoms and how to avoid latex products.
- Advise your tattoo and/or piercing artist of your condition and request a latex-free room for any procedures.
- Avoid latex in any shape or form whenever possible
- Carry an epinephrine injection pen for reaction emergencies
- Wear a medical ID bracelet stating your condition
