Weird Reaction to My Wedding Ring

My ring does that to me all the time--I was told it was either a mild allergic reaction or just the acid on my hands (my skin oils also wore the silver off my clarinet keys in high school). I saw someone say it happened when she ovulated; I'll have to see--it was true this month! I had a jeweler tell me they could coat my ring so that it didn't do that to my skin--when it's bad, it's all the way from teh base of my finger up to the knuckle! I haven't done it; it washes off easily for me or I just take off my ring, but if it continues or bothers you, I think you can do something from the ring-end, too.

Assuming your ring is gold, it is probably just a reaction to the acidity of your skin. The discoloration is usually caused by the nickel in the gold not the gold itself. Sometimes this goes away and sometimes you are stuck changing color. The higher the karat/more pure the gold the less likely you are to get discoloration. So if your ring is 14k you might have to switch to 24k, etc.

Hi C.,
Let me first tell you congrats on you soon to be bundle of joy! Next let me answer you question. This is completely normal and it has a lot to do with your harmones, my skin does the same thing, expectually when it is time for my monthly. It is a chimical reaction in your skin and most of the time it will just wash off with soap and water. No worries!

was out of town, so you may have found your answer, but I thought I'd share that my mom had the same thing happen (but she was not pregnant). It seemed to happen after she ate spaghetti sauce or other similar foods--possibly something with the acid?? It eventually stopped and has never returned, but it went on for a while. Monitor your food intake and see if it's related. the body is so strange sometimes, 'eh?!

C.,
There are some things you can try to help with this weird reaction. I work part time at a jewelry store and have seen this before. You might want to take it to a jewelry store and have them give it a good cleaning. If this doesn't help there are other things that the jewelry store could do to help you with this reaction.
Good Luck!

When I was pregnant with my second I suddenly started reacting weird to band-aids and adhesive tape. I had red marks all over my arms after they took the tape off from my ivs! It was super weird but all the different hormones just make your body change in so many odd ways!

Check your acid content in your diet. High acid does weird things to jewlery. J

Hi C., I had this same thing only it was with my watch. It actually kept going until my daughter was six months old. I went to a jewelry store and was going to buy a new watch because I thought it was my watch wearing out or something... the lady told me that this is actually pretty common because of the hormones. The reaction did clear up, I just didn't wear any type of rings or watches or anything ALL the time. I took them off everynight (which I never did) and limited the time I wore them during the day. Good luck and congrats on your coming child!

When I was pregnant with each of my three children I had food allergies(different each time) that I didn't have before and have never had since-the doctor said this happens and she said it's "being allergic to being pregnant". Ask your doctor if this is possible for you.

There is an old wives-tale that says it means you are low in iron. I don't know if there is any truth in that, but maybe ask your doctor to check it out.

C., I have the same reacion with my wedding ring & my mothers ring which is also gold. But I am not pregnant. This happens to me around the time I ovulate each month! Weirdest thing. I was told it was just my hormones. So my guess with you is that is it the same thing, your pregnancy hormones. It looks terrible doesn't it...like you are wearing a cheap gold ring! :)

it is a clear sign of iron deficiency. My best friend had that happen to her. She could take her gold cross & run it down her cheek or arm and it would make the gray or black line. Her dr told her after testing her she was iron deficient. If I were you I would have my iron count tested. Good luck!

My wedding ring also did that when I was pregnant. I could even take my ring and draw a line down my cheek. I was told that this reaction was low iron. I don't know if it is the same for you but that is what I was told for me.

Good luck
T.

It could be any of the things that previous posters have said but I want to add one.

Bleach. If you use bleach in the laundry and you get some on your hand and don't get it washed off it will turn your skin gray. If you wash your hand but don't get underneath your ring cleaned that can happen.

Is your ring white gold? I got both my rings from the Shane Co. For my white gold one, they told me that with time the white/silver finish on it would start to come off to start to reveal the original yellow, and when it happened to just bring it back in and they would re-dip it. Seems kind of crazy for the price you pay for them.

I had a similar thing happen and was told that it can be due to a chemical reaction with lotions or soap that you are using. I switched lotions and it went away! I had been using the same lotion for years with no problems. The different hormonal things going on in your body when you are pregnant can react differently with the ingredients in lotions and soaps. Good luck!