A couple months ago after a long day in the studio I started
noticing that my 14K gold wedding band was really irritating my
finger. I have been wearing it for 6+ years no problem prior to
this.
Thinking that I must have gotten an irritating chemical under it
I stopped wearing it and washed the ring. Put the ring away for a
month or so until all signs of irritation had left my finger.
Put the ring back on…within 12 hrs the area under the ring was
red and itchy. Took the ring off again…what gives? Put an
inexpensive gold necklace on…no reaction. Can anyone help?
Karen
Karen - the standard industry cure that I know of is to rhodium
plate the inside of the ring. Supposedly you are allergic to an
alloy in the metal. I’ll be interested to hear from John and the
rest on this subject. Rhodium plating has done the trick a long
time for me, Mike
Sounds like you might have contact dermatitis (eczema).
Sometimes chemicals, soap from washing your hands, or even just
water remains under the rings, it can be what’s irritating your
fingers. Does this sound like it could be your problem? Just
make sure you remove your rings whenever you wash your hands or
use any kind of chemicals (including spray cleaners, dish washing
detergent, perhaps even some hand lotions) and dry well before
putting them back on.
You could try painting the inside of the ring with nail polish
before wearing it again. If there is no reaction, you might have
an allergy to one of the base metals in the ring - perhaps
copper? Karen
A couple months ago after a long day in the studio I
started noticing that my 14K gold wedding band was really
irritating my finger. I have been wearing it for 6+ years no
problem prior to this. Thinking that I must have gotten an
irritating chemical under it I stopped wearing it and washed
the ring. Put the ring away for a month or so until all signs
of irritation had left my finger. Put the ring back
on…within 12 hrs the area under the ring was red and itchy.
Took the ring off again…what gives? Put an inexpensive gold
necklace on…no reaction. Can anyone help?
I’ll be darned, I’m having the same type of reaction on my
wrists! I always wear a watch . . .a dive watch, actually, one
that can go to 100 meters (300 feet), ANYWAY, under the
watchband (which is not even metal!!! nylon or something) I get
red itchy areas, no matter which wrist I wear it on.
A year ago, I was getting the same sort of “itchy, red” areas on
fingers, under rings (one of which was 18K yellow gold.) I
stopped wearing that ring …
Could it be the “bobbing compound?” the “Zam” or perhaps, the
Palmolive dishwashing detergent that I was my hands with after
polishing??? Wondering too!
Don’t be too hasty to blame the metal alloy. I’m assuming that
you folks are at the bench, correct? Carborundum, emery, metal
filings and aluminous oxide are wonderfully small particles and
in areas where one perspires they adhere. Enough said? I’m
nickel sensitive but was experiencing the same problem. I took
my ring off while working and replaced it at the end of the
day… problem solved! My Dad, a tool-and-die maker told me
about it.
Regards,
Skip
Skip Meister
NRA Endowment and
Instructor
@Skip_Meister
09/04/9714:34:35
Don't be too hasty to blame the metal alloy. I'm assuming
that you folks are at the bench, correct? Carborundum, emery,
metal filings and aluminous oxide are wonderfully small
particles and in areas where one perspires they adhere.
Enough said? I'm nickel sensitive but was experiencing the
same problem. I took my ring off while working and replaced it
at the end of the day... problem solved! My Dad, a
tool-and-die maker told me about it.
I am not sure what you mean by “at the bench.” Assuming you
mean I work with metals. . . the thought about removing all
jewelry may be an excellent suggestion, and I will be doing that
from now on!!!