Professional Hockey Player on Glove Sweat, Hand Eczema, and Skin Irritation
Linnea Petterson Dove – began using DRYE liners 1 November 2022
Interviewed 7 February 2024
Linnea trains daily in a high-friction environment. She started using the liners due to recurring eczema that affected both her skin and overall performance. In this interview, she shares what that shift meant in practice.
Redness, cracks, stinging, it was part of everyday life for Linnea at Frölunda HC. She’s been playing there for years, but for a long time, something bothered her more than most people realised.
“I’ve always had sensitive skin. Even a bit of sweat could set it off, especially on my hands. They’d get red, irritated, sometimes cracked. It’s been like that for years,” Linnea says.
What were you using before?
“Mostly cotton gloves under the hockey gloves, and cortisone. But it didn’t help much. The problems came back after every practice or game. There was always something that rubbed the wrong way. It just felt like a cycle.”
Through a teammate, she heard about a different kind of glove liner, one designed to move sweat away from the skin, not just soak it up.
“I thought, okay… might as well try. If it actually worked, it would be a huge relief.”
You’ve been using them for about a year now?
“Yeah, roughly. The first two practices felt a bit strange. You notice the difference in material at first. But then it just… turned around. My grip was better, my hands stayed drier, and my skin started doing better. Now it actually feels weird not to wear them.”
“I even tested it recently, did a practice without them, and never again. The redness came back straight away, the cracks too. It felt like going backwards.”
What do your teammates say?
“A few have asked why I wear gloves inside my gloves. It looks a bit odd if you don’t know. But once I explain, they get it. And then suddenly it’s not weird at all.”
“Also, my gloves don’t smell as bad anymore. They used to get kind of slimy – not so much now.”
Why do you wear glove liners?
“To avoid skin problems. To focus on the game. Because it genuinely makes a difference. It’s not a miracle cure, it’s just that my hands get to stay dry.”
“A lot of players use hair dryers between periods to dry their gloves. It’s not just for comfort – you actually play better with dry gloves.”
What would you say to other players dealing with the same issues but haven’t found anything that works?
“Try it. Give it three practices. If it doesn’t work, fine. But it might be that one small change that means you don’t have to think about your hands all the time. That’s exactly what happened for me.”
See the full video here in Swedish. English subtitles available.