Latex can cause worse problems for some people. I spend lot's of days on the salt water and have never put anything on my hands in the way of lotion or anything which my wife has always said is insane....the fishing and the no lotion. My hands were split to the bone last year, worst it's ever been, so I finally saw the dermo and he referred me to the UW med clinic in Seattle. They prescribed some creams that work wonders and make your hands almost water proof without any greasyness. I've always been paranoid about anything other than smelly jelly on my hands....hmmm maybe it was a reaction to smelly jelly? but it hasn't reduced my catch rate.