Powder-free vs powdered: why the standard changed.

For decades, medical gloves came dusted with cornstarch. Today powdered gloves have largely disappeared from clinical use. The reason is worth understanding, because it explains what a powder-free glove has to do differently.

What the powder was for

Donning. A dry glove grips damp skin, and powder was the simplest way to let a hand slide in cleanly — especially when gloves were changed dozens of times a shift.

Why it was phased out

The powder did its job, but it did not stay on the glove. Once airborne it carried whatever it had been in contact with, including natural latex proteins, which raised the risk of sensitisation for staff and patients breathing it in.

Inside the body, residual powder was linked to inflammatory reactions, granulomas and post-surgical adhesions. Regulators acted on the evidence: the US FDA banned powdered patient examination and surgeon gloves with effect from January 2017, and other markets moved the same way. EN 455-3 sets limits on residual powder for gloves declared powder-free.

How powder-free gloves solve donning

Removing powder means solving the original problem another way. Two methods do the work:

What it means for you

A well-made powder-free glove dons as easily as a powdered one, leaves no residue on instruments or specimens, and removes an avoidable irritant from the room. For latex-sensitive environments, pairing powder-free with a nitrile glove removes the protein question entirely.

Every BerrySure glove is powder-free, across surgical and examination lines.