Not all jewellery is made equal. There is no single recipe or metal formula used to create jewellery, and every single person’s skin and perspiration including body care products have different chemicals.
These chemicals can react with metals in the jewellery. That is why a ring can leave a black mark on your skin, even when it looks perfectly clean.
Key Takeaways
- It is a reaction: chemicals in your skin and body care products can react with the metals in jewellery.
- Every recipe differs: each jeweller mixes metals in their own way, and only the gold percentage is standard.
- Black marks: metals within the jewellery can flake off and leave a black mark on the skin.
- Easy fix: take your ring off before washing your hands, applying lotion or hand sanitiser, and swimming.
Why Does a Ring Leave a Mark on Your Skin?
Skin marking comes down to chemistry between your body and the metal. Several things can be involved at once.
| Cause | What happens |
|---|---|
| Perspiration | The chemicals in sweat react with metals in the jewellery |
| Soaps and lotions | Body care products react with the metals in the ring |
| Hand sanitiser | Another chemical that can react with the ring |
| The metals in the ring | Metals in the alloy can flake off and leave a black mark |
Each person’s skin chemistry is different, so two people can wear the same ring and see different results.
Copper Jewellery and Green Skin
A really predominant example is if you have met someone who wears copper jewellery, it is very common that the person will have a greenish stain on their skin. This is as a result of the chemicals in their perspiration reacting with the copper and the resulting chemical reaction stains skin.
A black mark works in a similar way. The reaction is simply with different metals, so the stain looks dark instead of green.
Why Every Jeweller’s Metal Mix Is Different
It is very important to keep aware that every jewellery manufacturer will have a recipe mix of metals that are used to make their jewellery. To use a food analogy, we have many different recipes to make a cake, just as there are many different recipes to make jewellery alloys.
The only thing standard in the jewellery alloys is the percentage of gold that is used. Follow this link to see our blog post on gold colours and gold carat types.
What Causes a Black Mark From a Ring?
So not only can the different metals react with the perspiration from our skin, and the chemicals in soaps and body lotions, but also with the different metal types within the jewellery itself which can flake off and leave a black mark on the skin.
These are the things worth checking if your ring leaves a mark:
- Your routine: do you wear the ring while washing, applying lotion or using sanitiser?
- Sweat: does the mark show up more in warm weather or after exercise?
- The metal mix: do you know what the ring is made from?
- The gold carat: a lower carat has a larger share of other metals.
- Cleaning: when did the ring last get a clean?
How to Stop Jewellery Marking Your Skin
To try to minimise marking of your skin due to chemical reactions, we always advise that you take off your ring before washing your hands or applying lotions or hand sanitiser. And it's best to take it off before you go swimming too.
- Before washing: take the ring off before washing your hands.
- Before lotion: remove it before applying lotion or hand sanitiser, then put it back on once your hands are dry.
- Before swimming: take it off before you go swimming.
- Keep it clean: follow our jewellery care guide.
- Ask about the metal: if marks keep happening, tell us and we can talk through the metal in your ring.
What to Do if Your Ring Has Already Left a Mark
A mark on your skin is not a sign that something is wrong with you. It simply tells us the ring and your skin chemistry do not agree right now. Try these steps.
- Take the ring off: this stops the reaction while you work out the cause.
- Wash your hands: use soap and water to clear the mark from your skin.
- Think back: note which lotions, soaps or sanitisers you used and whether you were sweating.
- Change the routine: remove the ring before your next wash, lotion or swim.
- Tell us: if it keeps happening, send us the details below.
Most people find that a small change to their routine is all it takes, and we are always happy to help if it does not.
Talk to Us About Marking
If a piece keeps leaving a mark, we want to hear about it. When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- The piece: which ring or jewellery is marking your skin.
- The mark: the colour and where it shows up.
- Your routine: products you use and when you wear the ring.
Got questions? Feel free to get in touch info@vinnyandcharles.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my ring leave a black mark on my finger?
A black mark usually comes from a reaction between your skin and the metals in the jewellery. Perspiration, soaps, lotions and hand sanitiser can all react with those metals, and metal within the piece can flake off and leave a dark mark on the skin.
Why does copper jewellery turn skin green?
The chemicals in perspiration react with the copper in the jewellery. That chemical reaction stains the skin green. It is common with copper pieces, and it shows how skin chemistry and metal can interact in different ways for different people.
How do I stop my ring marking my skin?
Take your ring off before washing your hands, applying lotion or hand sanitiser, and before you go swimming. This limits the chemicals that can react with the metal. If it keeps happening, contact us so we can talk through the metal in your ring.
Does the gold carat affect skin marks?
Possibly. Every jeweller mixes their gold with other metals in their own recipe, and only the gold percentage is standard. A lower carat has a larger share of those other metals, so the mix is worth asking about if you notice marks.
Why does one ring mark my skin and another does not?
Every jewellery manufacturer has a recipe mix of metals, and the only thing standard in the alloys is the percentage of gold. Two rings can therefore contain different metals, and each one can react differently with your skin, sweat and body care products.
Should I take my ring off to swim?
Yes, we advise taking your ring off before you go swimming. We also advise taking it off before washing your hands or applying lotions or hand sanitiser. This helps limit the chemical reactions that can mark your skin and affect the metal.
Browse Our Rings or Call Us
Want to see our rings, or talk about a piece that marks your skin? Browse our engagement rings or gold wedding rings, or call us on +61 8 6323 8494. Every ring is handcrafted in Perth and comes with a lifetime warranty.
