From time to time people contract allergic reactions to their wedding bands.
The skin underneath the band may become red, bumpy, and itchy. This may
happen the day after you first wear it, or three years down the road.
Why does this happen to some people and what causes these reactions?
As we grow our body chemistry changes, and as such, one can actually become
allergic to certain metals. Certain rings are also often plated with
gold, rhodium, or silver, which wear down exposing metals
underneath which we are allergic to when they surface. Very rarely are
we allergic to the metal which the ring is based on, such as gold, but
rather to the trace metals used to strengthen it such as copper and
nickel. Often times skin is irritated because it does not receive
any air being under the ring 24/7/365.
How does one solve these
problems and prevent future allergic reactions when buying jewelry?
There are a few options we can turn to for those with this problem.
#1
- Remove your wedding band and carefully wash your hands, in particular
between your fingers. Then wash your ring with water to get off all the
lotion, soap, sweat and other nasty stuff off it that gets trapped in
there. Keep your ring off for a few days until your skin clears up. Do
your best not to itch your finger, and if you can't resist buy some
hydro cortisone creme for relief. If this solves your problem try
wearing the ring again, but take it off when you sleep so your skin can
breathe.
#2 - If the above remedy fails to work, you're most
likely allergic to one of the metals in the band. If this is the case,
do one of the following:
a) Coat the inside of the ring with clear nail polish and allow to dry completely.
b) Visit a jeweler to have your ring plated.
c) Visit an allergist to find out which metal you're allergic to and buy a ring without that metal.
The
safest metals to buy if you are often allergic to jewelry are ones that
are pure and marked hypo-allergenic. Titanium is almost always a
safe bet and is used in many surgical instruments, but has a cheap feel
and won't hold it's polish. 24K gold is also good but weak and easy to
damage. 950 Platinum is the very best there is, and what we recommend
at Wedding Rings Forever.
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