The patch of skin in contact with a ring turns green when the materials oxidise. This means they react to the pH levels of your skin and create a tarnish, which then leaves a stain on the skin.
The short answer is a chemical reaction. The longer answer is due to three main reasons: the composition of the metal, an allergic reaction/ring rash and ring care.
Why do rings turn your finger green? This is most commonly because of a chemical reaction between the acids in your skin combined with the metal of the ring.
Let's bust a myth here first, and simultaneously give you some peace of mind. When your fingers turn green from wearing jewelry, it doesn't mean that it's an allergic reaction or that you have a rash! It's actually a chemical reaction that takes place when your skin touches certain metals found in plated jewelry.
First of all, know that the green residue isn't harmful and can be washed off your skin with soap and water. This can happen with multiple types of metals, usually copper. If you think about copper-plated pennies or the copper-covered Statue of Liberty, you'll notice a green discoloration over time.
Moisture in the air or on the skin can react with the copper present in all Sterling Silver jewelry, causing a green discoloration. This is a fairly common complaint in hot, humid climates and can also affect individuals with particularly moist skin.
Pandora provides a universe of hand-finished and modern jewelry primarily made from genuine materials, including solid sterling silver and 14k or 18k gold. We use a variety of gemstones, stones and cultured pearls to add sparkle and color to our genuine silver and gold jewelry.
Yes, green skin from jewelry does go away. Some people may confuse this sensation with their skin being allergic to copper, but that's not the case. “It's important to note this is an oxidation reaction, not a skin reaction,” says Beatrix Bell of Beatrixbell Handcrafted Jewelry.
The reason this happens is because of the item's metal content. It's either a chemical reaction between the acids in your skin and the type of metal of the jewelry, or it's a reaction between another substance on your skin, such as hand cream, with the metal.
A chemical reaction with your skin and a metal like copper, and some of these other metals, will turn your skin green. Sometimes even the small 7.5% of copper found in sterling silver could cause this reaction in some people. Factors that influence the green skin include perspiration, heat, humidity, and using lotion.
PANDORA jewelry products are made in Thailand. We recommend that customers remove jewelry before going to bed or participating in physical activity. Exposure to certain harsh chemicals or environments will result in compromising the integrity of your jewelry.
One of the most common reasons why sterling silver can make your skin green is because there's moisture trapped between the piece of jewelry and your skin. This moisture can cause a chemical reaction, resulting in the tint. In addition, the sun can also change how your jewelry reacts with your skin.
Maintain the beautiful shine and unique finish by polishing PANDORA RoseTM and PANDORA ShineTM products with a soft cloth. Dampen a soft cloth in lukewarm water, adding a small amount of mild soap, and rub gently on jewelry. Rinse with clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth.
Squeeze a small amount of toothpaste on to your tarnished piece of jewelry and smudge it with your finger. Once the jewelry has a thin coating, brush clean — working into the crevices — with the toothbrush.
Copper is also used to make brass or bronze and is the cause of some people's skin turning green. Why does it turn some people's skin green? People who have acidic skin ph cause copper to chemically react with sweat and release copper chloride leaving a greenish stain on the skin.
“Truly fade-proof jewelry metals are solid metals such as solid gold, titanium, platinum, non-plated stainless steel and non-plated sterling silver,” explains Deng. However, these pieces can be a lot pricier and out of budget for many people.
We recommend that customers remove their Pandora jewelry before going to bed, showering, swimming or participating in physical activity. Your jewelry must not be exposed to chlorine or salt water, as this will dull the appearance.
Avoiding moisture is a bit harder to accomplish but proper storage will definitely aid in minimizing this elements effects on your pieces. The bottom line is that simply by wearing your Pandora jewelry, the pieces will slowly tarnish.
Pandora jewelry is a mid-quality line, if you happen to like sterling silver. Some of the pieces are offered in gold-plated silver, but given the quality of everything else, this gold plating easily wears off.
When a ring turns your finger green, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a cheap piece of jewelry. This is a common misconception - all metals oxidize at some point, regardless of the worth of the piece. Your finger turns green from sterling silver because of a chemical reaction between the metal and your skin.
Quickly restore your jewelry or tableware with vinegar, water and baking soda. This cleaning agent is a great option for many things, including your tarnished silver. Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl of lukewarm water. Let the silver soak for two to three hours.
As stated above, the amount of time it takes for the tarnish to form depends on the amount of exposure the sterling silver piece exposed to air. Also, natural oils in the skin can help speed up the oxidation. In a controlled environment, it could take sterling silver a couple of years to tarnish.