Medical gloves are disposable gloves used in medical examinations and procedures to help prevent cross-contamination between caregiver and patient. Medical gloves are made of different polymers, including latex, nitrile, polyvinyl chloride, and neoprene; they can become dull, or chalked with corn starch to lubricate the gloves, making them easier to put on hands . 

Cornstarch replaces stone loose powder and talcum powder that stimulate tissue irritation, but corn starch can interfere with healing even if it enters the tissue (as during surgery). Therefore, colorless gloves are more often used in surgery and other sensitive procedures. Special manufacturing processes are used to compensate for powder deficiencies. There are two main types of medical gloves: examinations and surgery. Surgical gloves have more precise dimensions, higher precision and sensitivity, and have reached higher standards. Inspection gloves can be either sterile or sterile, while surgical gloves are generally sterile.

Sizing

Generally speaking, examination gloves are sized in XS, S, M and L. Some brands may offer size XL. Surgical gloves are usually sized more precisely since they are worn for a much longer period of time and require exceptional dexterity. The sizing of surgical gloves are based on the measured length across the palm in inches, at a level slightly above the thumb's sewn. Typical sizing ranges from 5.5 to 9.0 at an increment of 0.5. Some brands may also offer size 5.0 which is particularly relevant to women practitioners. First-time users of surgical gloves may take some time to find the right size and brand that suit their hand geometry the most. People with a thicker palm may need a size larger than the measurement and vice versa.

Research on a group of American surgeons found that the most common surgical glove size for men is 7.0, followed by 6.5; and for women 6.0 followed by 5.5.

Powdered Gloves

To facilitate donning of gloves, powders have been used as lubricants. Early powders derived from pines or club moss were found to be toxic.Talcum powder was used for decades but linked to postoperative granuloma and scar formation. Corn starch, another agent used as lubricant, was also found to have potential side effects such as inflammatory reactions and granuloma and scar formation

Elimination of powdered medical gloves

With the availability of non-powdered medical gloves that were easy to don, calls for the elimination of powdered gloves became louder. By 2016, healthcare systems in Germany and the United Kingdom had eliminated their use. In March 2016, the FDA issued a proposal to ban their medical use as well. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) passed a rule on December 19, 2016 banning all powdered gloves intended for medical use. The rule became effective on January 18, 2017.

Powder-free medical gloves are used in medical cleanroom environments, where the need for cleanliness is often similar to that in a sensitive medical environment.