Allergy is an abnormal, excessively intensive reaction of the organism to agents that normally do not cause any reactions in non-allergic people. So far, scientists have managed to discover ca. 250 latex proteins that may cause allergies, but no single specific substance of particular clinical importance has been identified.

The most important risk factor in allergy type I (immediate type) is a repeated exposure to latex products and the exposure duration (immediate allergy, and of type 4 – delayed). Another factor is the presence of atopy (atopy – congenital, or acquired during the foetal stage, hypersensitivity to protein-related substances, plant pollen, some foods, bacteria, moulds, medicines, cosmetics) and genetic conditions. The allergy risk factor is increased by diseases and injuries of the skin, which enable a direct penetration of proteins, and consumption of some foods, e.g. bananas, avocado, kiwi, sweet chestnuts, grapes, watermelons, tomatoes and citrus fruit. Factors facilitating the development of allergies are smoking and stress.

The most dangerous form of the first symptoms may be anaphylactic shock, e.g. during the first exposure of the mucous membrane or skin to latex products – during operations, dental treatment, diagnosis, gynaecological examination, intubations, catherisation and rectal injections.

The most frequently occurring symptom is the contact urticaria (local reddening, erythema, oedema), which appears within several minutes after contact with the allergen took place, and covers the contact area with e.g. a latex glove. This is type I allergic reaction.
Another possible type of allergic reaction is a contact inflammation of the skin (delayed allergy, chemical hypersensitiveness, typeIV), caused by a frequent exposure and contact with the allergen in question, which is allergenic to the skin, e.g. with residual chemicals used in the production process of gloves. Symptoms develop after several contacts, each between 12 and 48 hours, they last for weeks until the symptoms are gone (e.g. a regular weekly contact with a specific chemical may result in a chronic rash). It is manifested by skin reddening, especially on the exposure side, palpable swellings on the skin surface, itching, rash, increase of temperature and even eczema.

A possible undesired skin reaction is a contact skin inflammation resulting from irritation that is not an allergy, but a loss of epidermis self-regeneration ability, which develops over years. Symptoms persist in spots where contact with the glove occurred (reddening, erythema, blisters). Causes of contact skin irritations comprise: frequent washing and intense rubbing the skin dry, use of strong, irritating washing solutions, disinfectants and detergents, putting gloves on wet hands, frequent wetting and drying of hands, excessive sweating of hands, mechanical skin irritations caused by e.g. talc, non-neutral pH of the glove, and insufficient hygiene.