Gold Ring Turning Finger Black
Gold rings made in low purity gold like 9k or 10k can turn finger black. These gold rings contain high percentage of copper which can turn finger black or green. Other factors like cosmetic items and water contact can also play a part. In order to get rid of this, it is recommended to avoid low purity gold rings.
In this article we will answer questions like why is gold ring turning finger black or green, what are its potential causes and solutions.
Causes of Gold Ring Turning Skin Black
There can be many causes of gold ring turning your skin black. Main of these causes are:
1. Low Quality Gold Ring
Low quality gold alloys i.e. 9 karat or 10 karat ones are the key reason for turning finger black. Such alloys contain higher percentage of copper which reacts with skin oils and dead skin cells leaving black marks on finger. On the other hand, higher karat gold rings i.e. 14, 18k or 20k are very unlikely to leave such spots due to high gold content.
2. Excess Use of Cosmetic Items
If you use a number of cosmetic items like perfumes, lotions and skin oils, then this can be another cause. Whenever, gold rings are exposed to cosmetics, lotions, and perfumes, they can quickly react with copper present in gold alloy leading to tarnishing and coloration.
Regular contact with water plays its part in speeding up tarnishing. Chlorinated water, seawater and any harsh chemicals help copper in reacting fast.
Tarnishing is only one of the cause that turn finger black. It is not the sole cause.
3. Extra Sensitive Skin
People with extra sensitive skin get black finger more often. Factors i.e. pH level of your skin and natural oils execrated by skin contribute towards coloration. For example, copper can react with acidic skin faster. Similarly, people with higher levels of salt in their swear can get black or green skin often.
If you think your skin is the cause of gold ring turning finger black, apply a thin coat of nail polish on inner part of the ring. This will create a barrier between your skin and gold avoiding any kind of reaction.
If problem persists, then all you can do is to avoid low purity gold and only wear high purity gold like 18k or 20k.
4. Dirt over Ring
Sometimes dirt and dead skin cells can also accumulate under the ring. When it reacts with sweat, it leaves a black residue over your finger. Regular cleaning of ring eliminates this problem. For cleaning, a gentle soap, a bowl of warm water and a soft cloth for drying is enough.
5. Fake or Gold Plated Jewelry
Fake gold or gold plated jewelries can also create black coloration. Gold plated jeweleries contain a cheap base metal where gold is plated over it. Due to its really thin layer, this gold plating can’t remain for a long time. Once it wears off, cheap base metals react with skin to turn finger black. Copper, brass and bronze are included in these metals.
Is Black Finger Harmful?
Though, black finger might appear bad but it is not harmful. Just wash your finger with a normal soap and it will be removed. If does not get removed or causes irritation or allergy, its better to consult with a health professional.
Can Gold Ring turn Finger Other than Black?
Yes, gold ring can also turn skin green. It happens only with gold rings are made with low purity gold. High purity gold does not cause this thing.
How to Avoid Coloring of your Skin
Whether its black or green, it’s disturbing for jewelry owners. Here are some steps you can use to avoid coloration of skin.
1. Avoid Contact with Water
Water brings tarnishing. And tarnishing bring black color on your skin. Water speeds up the process of tarnishing on regular contact. Occasional contact is not going to damage gold.
Common places where jewelry comes in contact with water are swimming pool, beach, bathroom and laundry. A gold jewelry owner must avoid all of these places when wearing jewelry. Always remove jewelry and place in a sperate pouch before you go to these places.
2. Avoid Contact with Chemicals
Household chemicals like bleach and detergents are harsh towards gold. Gold starts tarnishing with regular contact of these chemicals. Even fumes of bleach can damage gold. Remove your ring whenever you have to deal with these chemicals.
3. Don’t Wear Jewelry in Humidity
Humidity contains water and certain chemicals. These chemicals, on reacting with copper fasten the speed of tarnishing. This makes important to avoid wearing low karat gold jewelry on a rainy day.
Similarly, hot days bring sweat. This sweat also has salts and chemicals which do same thing as humidity. It’s better to avoid wearing low karat jewelry on hot day as well.
4. Avoid Cosmetic Items
Excessive use of cosmetic items also brings tarnishing. This tarnishing leaves green or black spots on skin. Avoid using perfumes or lotions directly on jewelry. Always wear jewelry 10 minutes after using cosmetic items to avoid tarnishing or black color.
5. Proper Storage of Jewelry
Storing of jewelry is an important aspect people often ignore. Placing jewelry in humid places like bathroom, hot shower and wash basin is not a good practice. Always store your jewelry in a dry and cool place. Also ensure minimum exposure of air and water.
What if Gold ring still turns Finger Black?
It is possible that after following all of the above mentioned steps, you still get black color on finger. If it happens, then the there are two ways to get out of this.
- Avoid is all kinds of low purity gold jewelry. Only buy high karat gold jewelry from a reputable brand.
- Re-plate your jewelry with rhodium or any other metal that does not tarnish.
Common FAQ’s
Here are some common FAQ’s about gold ring turning skin black.
1. Does only Fake gold turn Finger black?
No, low purity gold can also turn finger black. It does not mean that it is fake. It only means that it has greater impurity part.
2. Can sweat turn finger black?
Yes, sweat also plays a part in turning finger green. Acidity from sweat speed up tarnishing which leaves black or green marks on skin.
3. Should you stop wearing gold ring if it again turns finger black?
First try the methods mentioned above in order to avoid black finger. If it does not solve the problem, either stop using or re-plate it.
4. What kind of cosmetic items should you avoid?
Lotions, perfumes and any kind of skin oils should be avoided.
Conclusion
Gold ring can leave black or green marks on skin. This can be embarrassing as well as a problem as well. Multiple causes contribute towards this issue including water, harsh chemicals, low karat jewelry and cosmetic items. It is important to know what this situation demands from a jewelry owner. You should follow all the steps which will help you in avoiding finger turning black. Proper storage, avoiding chemicals contacts, avoiding humidity and water are included in it. However, if the problem persists, then only option left is to leave low karat jewelry and only wear high purity gold jewelry.