Do Alloy Earrings Turn Your Ears Green
Alloy earrings turning ears green is one of the most common problems you can run into as an alloy jewelry owner. It can be embarrassing as well as worried moment especially in public gatherings like parties. This article will answer questions like do alloy earrings turn your ears green, why this happens, how to prevent it, and whether you should be worried about it or not. So let’s start this discussion.
What are Alloy Earrings
Alloy earrings are a type of jewelry made from an alloy which is a combination of two or more different metals. The main motive behind making alloys is to enhance certain properties of the base metals, such as strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion. Alloys are commonly used in jewelry, particularly earrings and rings for their affordability, versatility in design, and a range of aesthetic options.
Common Alloys in Earrings
Alloys used for earrings can be of many types including sterling silver, brass and nickel silver etc. Most common used alloys in earrings are:
1. Brass
Brass is a combination of copper and zinc. It is commonly used in fashion or costume jewelry for its cheap price. It has a warm, golden color that resembles gold, making it a popular choice for affordable jewelry.
2. Nickel Silver
Nickel silver is the only alloy with “silver” name without having any traces of silver in it. Some people might get surprised to know it but it’s truth. Nickel silver doesn’t contain any silver. It’s an alloy made of nickel, copper, and zinc, known for its silver-like appearance. It is also used in costume jewelry for its white and lustrous appearance.
3. Copper Alloys
Pure copper and its alloys are also frequently used in earrings due to their malleability and aesthetic appeal. Copper alloys often have a reddish-brown hue.
Why Do Alloy Earrings Turn Your Ears Green?
The green discoloration appearing on your skin is due to a chemical reaction known as tarnishing. This reaction is in between the metal in the alloy and your skin. This reaction is particularly common with alloys that contain higher amounts of copper.
Copper, which is a primary component in many alloys such as brass, bronze etc. reacts with the moisture on your skin especially sweat and the air around it. This reaction produces copper salts, which are green in color. When these copper salts come into contact with your skin, they leave behind a greenish stain.
When metals like copper are exposed to oxygen, they undergo a chemical reaction known as oxidation. During oxidation, the metal loses electrons, leading to the formation of metal oxides and salts. In the case of copper, this process produces copper oxide and copper carbonate, which are green compounds. These compounds are what cause the green stain on your skin.
While copper is the most common victim, other metals in alloys, such as nickel, can also contribute to the problem. Nickel, when mixed with other metals, can react with your skin natural oils and acids, leading to irritation and discoloration.
Factors Accelerating Tarnishing
Coming towards factors accelerating tarnishing. Several factors can accelerate the oxidation process, making the green discoloration more likely:
1. High Humidity
Moist environments provide more opportunities for moisture to interact with the metal, speeding up the oxidation process.
2. Acidic Skin pH
People with more acidic skin are more likely to experience oxidation, as the acids in sweat can accelerate the reaction.
3. Chemical Exposure
Exposure to certain chemicals, such as those in lotions, perfumes, and cleaning products, can also hasten the oxidation process.
Do all Alloy Earrings cause Green Ears?
Not all alloys will cause the same level of discoloration. Alloys with higher copper content are more prone to causing green stains, while alloys with metals like nickel or zinc may cause irritation or other types of discoloration. The specific reaction depends on the metals used and their interaction with your skin.
How to Prevent Your Ears from Turning Green
Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to prevent or minimize the risk of your ears turning green when wearing alloy earrings.
1. Choosing the Right Earrings
Choose earrings made from hypoallergenic metals like stainless steel, titanium, gold or platinum, which are less likely to react with your skin. It may cost you more but will come with a permanent remedy.
Some alloy earrings are coated with a protective layer of hypoallergenic metals like gold, rhodium, or another metal that can help prevent direct contact between the alloy and your skin, reducing the likelihood of green discoloration.
2. Preventative Measures
Applying a thin layer of clear nail polish to the parts of the earrings that come into contact with your skin can create a barrier between the metal and your skin, preventing oxidation. This can impact the overall look.
Anti-tarnish solutions can also be applied to earrings to protect them from oxidation and discoloration.
3. Proper Care and Cleaning
Clean your earrings regularly every month to remove sweat, oils, and other contaminants that can accelerate oxidation. Use a mild soap and water solution, and dry them thoroughly after cleaning.
Store your earrings in a cool, dry place, away from moisture and air exposure, to slow down the oxidation process.
Allergic Reactions vs. Green Discoloration
Green discoloration is not the same as an allergic reaction. As the green stain is due to chemical reaction called oxidation, an allergic reaction is a little bit different thing. An allergic reaction is a result of your immune system responding to a foreign substance. Nickel, a common component in many alloys, is a frequent cause of allergic reactions. Symptoms of a nickel allergy can include itching, redness, and swelling.
It must be clear now copper can only cause green coloration not allergic reaction. So, if you want to avoid any green coloration on your skin, avoid copper based earrings.
What to Do if Your Ears Turn Green?
The green stain from alloy earrings, while unsightly, is generally not harmful. It’s simply a result of a chemical reaction on the surface of your skin and these can be removed by simply washing the colored area of the body. However, there are other concerns to consider like allergic reactions when wearing alloy earrings.
As we know till now, alloy earrings can turn your ears green due to a chemical reaction. The foremost thing one can do here is to check for any allergic reactions and visit a dermatologist if there any. If there is no allergic reaction or problems like itching or redness of skin, washing with a soap or ethanol can solve the problem.
Alternatives to Alloy Earrings
If you’re concerned about green discoloration, consider alternatives to alloy earrings that are less likely to cause this issue.
1. Stainless Steel Earrings
Stainless steel is an excellent alternative to alloy earrings of copper or nickel. It is hypoallergenic, resistant to tarnish, and doesn’t react with the skin in the same way copper alloys do. Apart from this, it has a lustrous white appearance with affordable prices which can be suited to many. Stainless steel earrings are available in various designs and are known for their durability.
2. Sterling Silver Earrings
Sterling silver is another great option. It is composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper). While it contains copper, sterling silver is less likely to cause green stains because of the higher silver content. Additionally, sterling silver can be easily polished to remove any tarnish that does occur. One can easily find these earrings from any jewelry store dealing in sterling silver.
Silver can also be found in other compositions such as argentium silver and 950 silver which can be even better options than sterling silver at a higher cost.
3. Gold and Platinum Earrings
For those willing to invest more in their jewelry, gold and platinum earrings are ideal choices. Pure gold (24k) is too soft for jewelry, so it is often alloyed with other metals, but high-karat gold (like 18k or 22k) and platinum are much less likely to cause any skin discoloration.
Gold is easily available in many compositions and appearances such as white gold, rose gold and yellow gold.
4. Rhodium Plated Earrings
If you’re not one of those willing to spend more money on gold or platinum based jewelries, rhodium plating might be the best choice for you. Rhodium is a bright lustrous metal known for its usage in jewelry plating over metals like gold, silver and brass. It is a hypoallergenic metal which never reacts with the skin.
The only con of rhodium plating is its wearing off where one have to do re-plating after every year costing around $50 to $60 depending on the price of rhodium.
Conclusion
Alloy earrings are a popular choice in the world of fashion jewelry, offering a blend of affordability, versatility, and style. However, they do come with the potential drawback of causing green discoloration on the skin. This green stain is primarily due to the oxidation of metals like copper within the alloy when they come into contact with moisture and air. This can lead to either an allergic reaction or simple green coloration of the skin. It is better to wash it with some soap and water. Permanent solutions for this problem include avoiding nickel based earrings and going for hypoallergenic metals.