Buying the perfect ring can make you want to show of your hands at every opportunity, whether its holding your drink for an Instagram post, handing someone something or getting your nails done. However, sometimes rings can have an unfortunate affect on your skin, turning your finger green.
Contrary to popular belief, if a ring turns your finger green it doesn’t mean your silver ring is fake.
The green tinge occurs when your skin reacts with the metal in the ring, or a specific skin cream or your sweat can trigger the discolouration.
This can happen with silver, which can oxidise after coming into contact with certain acids.
Another reason can be if your sterling silver ring has not been correctly pickled – which is where the ring is left to sit in a solution of sodium bisulphite to prevent copper oxide occurring on the surface – creating green skin.
Read More: How to clean silver rings
Specialist polymer barrier
Another solution is to use a polymer barrier between your skin and the ring.
Apply a barrier product, such as Jeweller’s Skin Guard, to the ring according to the manufacturer’s directions, a quick google search will bring up a wealth of options.
These special products are created to seal the metal and protect your skin from staining.
A single application of these products lasts for around two months and your can reapply as needed, dependent on how often you wear your jewellery.
Avoid creams
If you tend to wear hand cream or apply suncream or hand sanitiser to your hands try and avoid your ring when you do so.
Also avoid wearing the ring in the shower or at the swimming pool, as your toiletries and chlorine from the pool can increase the green-tinging effects.
Ultimately, the one way you can ensure a ring will not turn your finger green is to chose jewellery made of stainless steel, platinum and rhodium-plated.
All of these includes almost entirely white gold, which can be pricey but will not turn your finger a sickly green colour.