Jewelry Turning Skin Green
Many a times, jewelry can turn skin green which can be frustrating. This incident is common with costume as well as fine jewelry. However, there are many ways which you can use to stop jewelry from turning skin green.
Why Jewelry Turns Skin Green?
Jewelry turning skin green is a result of reaction between your skin and the metal your jewelry is made of. Multiple factors like moisture, cosmetic items, harsh chemicals and even your sweat can contribute to it. However, it is not a big problem and is completely non-medical thing. This coloration can be removed by washing your colored part of the body with a simple soap.
11 Ways of Stopping Jewelry from Turning Skin Green
Here are ways which you can use.
1. Nail Polish
This method might not seem as a flashy one but it works really well. This method has been in use for quite some time. Take a transparent nail polish and brush it inside parts of your jewelry. Or you use paint those parts of the jewelry which are expected to come into contact with your skin. This will create a transparent boundary between skin and the metal preventing any reaction from happening. You can use it for any type of jewelry like ring, earrings, necklaces and even anklets.
For better results, paint regularly after every use specifically if you get a lot of sweat.
2. Jewelry Sealants
Jewelry sealants are another way of stopping jewelry from turning skin green. This method can be better than nail polish if you don’t like strong nail polish smell. Similar to nail polish, use a jewelry sealant and paint jewelry with it. Popular jewelry sealant brands are Gloss and Krylon. Other names include Guardian Angel and Bling Guard.
These jewelry sealants are specifically designed for this type of work whereas nail polish method is a temporary solution for a day or two.
3. Using Jewelry Shields
Jewelry shields is a type of paint that can act as a barrier in between skin and the metal. These chemicals are easily available on any online jewelry chemical related store. For applying, take the bottle and brush your jewelry with the paint. Once done, let it dry for 20 minutes. After that, your jewelry is safe to be worn. You can also use more than one coat if your skin is extra sensitive.
4. Wear Jewelry Over Clothes
Wearing jewelry over clothes is another way of avoiding green skin. Green skin is caused when certain metals react with skin, so you can easily prevent it by wearing clothes below jewelry. This can create an issue if you don’t have the same style apparels for a particular jewelry design. However, if you have, it can be a unique statement and perfect opportunity to express yourself.
This method can work for necklaces, bracelets and even anklets. But it will not work for rings.
5. Avoid Contact with Water
Water is the enemy of your jewelry. It can damage it really hard. You must save your jewelry from water at all costs. This includes any kind of chlorinated water, seawater, tap water and even moisture. Moisture brings tarnishing which in result becomes a cause of turning skin green. Common places to avoid water contact are bathroom, swimming pool, beach and laundry room.
Apart, areas with high humidity rates like coastal areas contain moisture. This moisture can also react with jewelry and make it react with your skin. If you live in such an area and get green skin often, then avoiding copper or silver based costume jewelry is the only way. Both of these metals turn skin green. Other metals like stainless steel never react with the skin.
6. Avoiding Cosmetic items
This is another more of a precautionary measure rather than a solution. All artificial cosmetic items are made by using excess amounts of reactive chemicals which can quickly react with skin. So, not using cosmetic items excessively can be another way of avoiding green skin.
These items include perfumes, hair sprays, skin oils and lotions. If you use any of these cosmetic items and get a green skin, wear your jewelry 10 minutes after applying these items.
7. Save Jewelry from Chemicals
Harsh chemicals can be another cause of green skin. Chemicals like bleach, detergents and household cleaners are reactive and cause skin reactions. These chemicals come into contact with our body while cleaning or laundering. Even fumes of these chemicals are not good for your costume jewelry.
Remove your jewelry before doing any tasks involving these chemicals. Or it will keep turning skin green.
8. Don’t Wear Jewelry on a Hot or a Rainy Day
Our sweat contains all sorts of salts and minerals. These minerals when come into contact with our skin and certain metals, turn skin green. It also depends on the amount of salts a person’s sweat contains. That’s why some people might get green skin more often than others. As it is a natural process, you have to try your best to avoid sweating. This can be done by not wearing costume jewelry made of copper or silver on a hot day.
Moreover, rain water also contains certain chemicals and salts. These can also be reactive towards skin. So, avoiding rain water while wearing jewelry is also an important step of avoiding skin turning green.
9. Don’t Wear Reactive Metals
Certain metals react with skin due to their reactive nature and certain do not. It is important for every costume jewelry buyer to know the list of these metals. Metals which react with skin are:
- Silver
- Copper
- Brass
- Bronze
- Nickel
You must avoid all jewelries which contain excess amount of these metals. Trace amounts of these metals might not cause a problem. However, nickel can cause skin rash, redness, irritation and blisters with even trace amounts.
As an alternative, you can use stainless steel and titanium as jewelry metals. Both of these metals are completely hypoallergenic and are recommended by jewelry experts.
10. Let your Skin set Free
Understandably, costume jewelry is designed to wear for shorter periods of time. People who wear costume jewelry all the times are expected to get more green skin. Only wear jewelry when you are expected to. Unnecessary wearing is only going to cause problems.
Remove your jewelry while sleeping or doing other tasks. This will prevent jewelry from reacting with excess amounts of sweat and skin acids. And ultimately, no green skin will happen.
11. Use Proper Storage
Proper storage is another step towards preventing green skin from costume jewelry. For example, if you don’t store your jewelry properly, it will come in contact with moisture, water and chemicals which will settle on its surface by making a thin layer of deposits. Once you wear jewelry, it will come in contact with your skin and you will get green skin. Now you must understand the importance of storing jewelry properly.
So how to store jewelry properly? Buy a jewelry storage box with separate compartments and soft cloth linings. Wooden boxes must be avoided and use only plastic jewelry boxes. You can buy these jewelry boxes on Amazon. This will not only save your jewelry from moisture but also from tangling and friction.
If you are outside and want to remove your jewelry, make sure you store it an air tight plastic bag.
Common FAQ’s about Costume Jewelry Skin Turning Green
Here are some common FAQ’s about costume jewelry turning skin green.
1. Which method is best for avoiding green skin?
Avoid copper or silver based jewelry and use professional jewelry sealants.
2. Why some people get green skin and some do not?
There are can be multiple reasons for this. Common reasons are level of sensitivity of skin, sweat salts percentage and quality of jewelry metal.
3. What to do if you get Green Skin?
Just wash green part of your body and you are good to go.