If you live with hand psoriasis, wearing the right gloves can make everyday activities more comfortable. The best type depends on what materials your hands are sensitive to and what you’ll be doing while wearing them.

Read on to learn which gloves work best for different tasks, what to look for when choosing a pair, and which materials you may want to avoid.

Do Gloves Help With Psoriasis on the Hands?

Gloves aren’t a cure for hand psoriasis, but they can help protect your hands from everyday triggers by creating a barrier between your skin and substances like water, cleaning products, and other potential irritants.

Gloves may also help reduce scratching, friction, and skin injuries that, in some people, can trigger new psoriatic patches or flare-ups, known as the Koebner phenomenon.

Types of Gloves for Psoriasis on the Hands

The type of gloves you use for hand psoriasis depends on various factors, including the material and what activity you’re doing while wearing them.

Cotton Gloves

If your dermatologist recommends them, wearing cotton gloves over topical psoriasis treatments may help the medications work better.

• Material — Soft, breathable cotton
• Best for — Overnight wear, dry indoor activities, and wearing under waterproof gloves
• Benefits — Absorb sweat and provide a soft barrier against sensitive skin

When shopping for cotton gloves, look for 100 percent cotton that feels comfortable against cracked or sensitive skin and fingernails. Avoid rough seams or a tight fit that may rub against plaques, and don’t rely on cotton alone for dishwashing and other wet work.

When washing your cotton gloves, use sensitive-skin detergents to avoid irritation or itchiness.

Latex Gloves

Latex gloves offer a close, flexible fit, but they may not be the right choice if your skin is sensitive to latex or chemicals used to make rubber gloves. Latex can trigger reactions ranging from skin rashes to severe, life-threatening allergic reactions called anaphylaxis. Stop wearing the gloves if you develop new skin irritation, like itching, redness or skin discoloration, swelling, or a rash, and talk with your dermatologist if reactions continue.

• Material — Natural rubber latex
• Best for — Tasks that require flexibility or a waterproof barrier
• Benefits — Provide a flexible, waterproof barrier that can keep water and other irritants off your hands

Like other waterproof gloves, latex can trap heat and sweat. Avoid wearing them for long periods, and consider a cotton liner if you need waterproof gloves for an extended task.

Nitrile Gloves

Nitrile gloves are latex-free options for keeping water and household irritants off sensitive hands. If you have psoriasis on your hands, choose powder-free gloves. If nitrile leaves your skin itchy or irritated, consider accelerator-free options.

Note that chemicals used to manufacture nitrile gloves can cause an allergic skin reaction called contact dermatitis.

• Material — Synthetic rubber with no natural rubber latex proteins
• Best for — Dishwashing, wet work, cooking, and handling certain chemicals
• Benefits — Provide a waterproof barrier that protects sensitive skin from water and irritants

Nitrile can trap heat and sweat during longer tasks. To prevent this, wear thin cotton liners underneath to absorb moisture and keep your hands more comfortable.

Vinyl Gloves

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends vinyl or nitrile gloves for wet work. Vinyl also contains no natural rubber latex proteins, making it an option if you have a latex allergy.

• Material — Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a synthetic plastic
• Best for — Short wet or messy tasks, light cleaning, and some food preparation
• Benefits — Provide a barrier between sensitive skin and water or everyday irritants.

Vinyl gloves tend to fit more loosely and are less durable than nitrile, so they may not be suitable for longer tasks or jobs requiring stronger protection. If you choose disposable vinyl gloves, look for powder-free options and change them if they tear or become wet inside. Vinyl gloves are not recommended for healthcare workers who handle bodily fluids or excretions directly.

Neoprene Gloves

Neoprene gloves may be useful when you need a waterproof barrier for wet work or certain workplace tasks. However, they may not be comfortable for prolonged wear because they’re waterproof. Wearing cotton liners underneath neoprene gloves can help reduce irritation.

• Material — Synthetic rubber (polychloroprene)
• Best for — Wet work and certain household or occupational tasks
• Benefits — Provide a waterproof barrier between your hands and water or other irritants

Neoprene may also contain chemicals called thioureas, which can cause allergic contact dermatitis in some people. If neoprene makes your hands itchy, red or discolored, or more irritated, stop using it and consider another glove material.

For work involving chemicals, use gloves specifically rated for the substance you’re handling.

Work and Gardening Gloves

Gardening, lifting weights, using tools, and doing yard work can expose your psoriatic-prone skin to repeated rubbing, scrapes, cuts, and splinters. Work gloves add a layer between your hands and these irritants and sources of injury.

• Material — Leather, canvas, synthetic fabric, or a combination of materials
• Best for — Gardening, yard work, handling tools, exercise, and other activities that may scrape or rub your hands
• Benefits — Can reduce friction and offer a layer of protection

If the inside of your work gloves feels rough or irritating, try wearing thin cotton gloves underneath.

Fingerless Gloves

Fingerless gloves cover most of your hands while leaving your fingertips free, making them useful when you want some coverage without losing dexterity.

• Material — Cotton, bamboo, soft knits, or other fabrics
• Best for — Typing, using your phone, working indoors, or covering visible plaques
• Benefits — Protect and cover affected areas while keeping your fingertips free

Choose soft, breathable styles that don’t rub against plaques. Fingerless gloves can also be a more discreet or fashionable option if you feel self-conscious about visible hand psoriasis.

How To Choose the Right Gloves

The best gloves protect your hands without causing more irritation. Consider the following:

• Activity — Choose waterproof gloves for wet work and sturdier gloves for gardening, using tools, and doing other manual tasks.
• Fit — Gloves should stay in place without squeezing, rubbing, or pressing against painful plaques or cracks.
• Breathability — Waterproof gloves can trap sweat. For longer tasks, cotton liners can help absorb moisture.
• Sensitivity — If gloves cause new itching, burning, redness or skin discoloration, or a rash, stop using them.
• Condition — Keep reusable gloves clean and dry, and replace torn or damaged gloves.

Talk To Your Dermatologist

If gloves worsen your symptoms, note the material and discuss it with your dermatologist. They can help identify possible triggers, recommend safer alternatives, and adjust your treatment if your hands aren’t improving.