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Why Some Jewelry Leaves a Green Stain on Skin

January 12, 2018

Picture this. You’ve been wearing one of your favorite rings all day. When you get home and take it off, there’s a green stain around your finger! This can happen with any form of jewelry– earrings, necklace chains, bracelets, etc. As unsightly as it may be, it’s a common occurrence that many of us have had to deal with at some point in time. But why does your gorgeous jewelry leave you looking like you’re about to turn into the Hulk?
Even though some people are allergic to certain metals, most staining isn’t caused by an allergy- it’s simply a reaction between our skin and metals used in jewelry. Green staining is especially prominent when the jewelry touches areas that perspire. Below are some common metals that can stain your skin and the reasons why.

Copper- the green stain culprit

When copper is exposed to other chemicals and elements (lotions, perfumes, skin oils, etc.) it can react with them, leading to changes on its surface. Can you guess what color copper turns when it oxidizes? That’s right, green. This is exactly why your copper jewelry may be turning your skin green. Oxidation occurs when copper is exposed to air, sweat, and other chemicals for prolonged periods of time, so the tarnish is transferring to your skin. Even if your piece is not pure copper, it still might have enough copper in it to cause a reaction. This reaction varies depending on your individual body chemistry.
Woman wearing charm bracelet carrying small bag.

Discoloration from sterling silver

Sterling silver is 7.5 percent copper. If your sterling silver jewelry is staining your skin green, it’s most likely a reaction from the copper. However, when sterling silver tarnishes, it usually leaves a black stain on your skin. Silver darkens to a black color as a reaction to gasses in the air. Some sterling silver pieces are coated with other metals, like rhodium, to help keep them from tarnishing. Unfortunately, the coating will wear off over time. To prevent staining, routinely clean sterling silver jewelry or ask your jeweler to reapply another coating of rhodium.

Gold shouldn’t leave a green stain, right?

It is very uncommon for pure gold (24K) to stain your skin. The problem occurs when gold is mixed with other metals to create an alloy. Copper, nickel, and silver are most commonly used to alter the color of gold. A combination of copper and yellow gold creates rose gold; a combination of nickel or silver with yellow gold creates white gold. And as we already know, these metals can stain your skin. While the mixture of these metals make gold stronger and more affordable, they also increase the possibility of reactions with your skin. The same goes for gold plated jewelry. The thin layer of gold will eventually wear off, exposing an inexpensive base metal that can stain your skin.
Want to know the best part?
Just because your jewelry is turning you into a Ninja Turtle, you don’t have to stop wearing it! There are a few little tricks you can use to prevent the green stain from happening.

  • Know the metals that cause your skin to react so you can avoid them.
  • Keep your skin dry when wearing jewelry. Don’t wear jewelry when working out, sweating, or exposing skin to liquids.
  • Keep your jewelry clean and tarnish-free. Routinely visit a jeweler, like Leo Hamel’s in San Diego, for necessary cleaning and polishing.
  • Wear platinum! Platinum is hypoallergenic, so for those that are having an allergic reaction, this precious metal should be your new best friend.
  • Often the culprit in cheaper jewelry is nickel. Try costume jewelry that is labeled nickel-free.
  • Purchase a clear sealant to use as a protective coating for the metal. A cheaper alternative is to use clear nail polish! Keep in mind, the polish will wear off over time and will need to be reapplied.
  • If gold is staining your skin, try switching to a purer version of that metal, like 18K gold that is 75% pure gold and 25% other alloys, compared to 14K at 58.3% gold and 41.7% other alloys. The alloys in lesser karat gold, and even white and rose gold, could be causing the green stain.

    Woman’s hands featuring multiple stacking and crisscross diamond rings.

The most common precious metal allergy

The precious metal most people are allergic to is nickel. For those that are actually having an allergic reaction to the metal in your jewelry, you won’t just have stained skin. If your skin becomes irritated in any way when wearing jewelry you might be allergic to the metal. Oftentimes, your skin will become red and itchy. It’s best to simply stop wearing the pieces that are causing irritation until you’ve figured out what is causing the reaction.

Talk to your local jeweler

The best way to avoid the unattractive green stain is to talk to your local jeweler. If you’re in San Diego, stop by Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers on San Diego Avenue! Let us know what metals your skin has reacted to and we’ll assist with finding the right jewelry for you. Goodbye, ugly green stain. Hello, happy skin!

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