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Dermatologists and jewelry professionals explain why some rings suddenly cause redness and itching.
If you've developed red, bumpy, itchy skin under your wedding band, chances are you have wedding ring rash. Before you start contemplating the options of either no wedding ring or an itchy finger for life, there's good news: wedding ring rash is both common and curable.
Typically, one metal is the culprit: "Wedding ring rash is usually caused by an allergy to nickel that leaches out of the wedding ring," says Shari Sperling, DO, the founder of Sperling Dermatology. Now, most of us aren't in the market for nickel while engagement ring shopping, but even your white gold or platinum ring may still have some nickel components within.
Absolutely certain there is no nickel in your wedding jewelry? Unfortunately, it isn't the only cause: You can definitely still get wedding ring rash from a build up of dirt, oil, debris, and all kinds of bacteria can live on your ring if you aren't cleaning it correctly. And to top it all off, even if you take extra care to have tip-top hygiene, the extra handwashing could be another contributing factor if there's soap build-up underneath that band.
If your ring is wreaking havoc on your skin, there are several things you can do to both prevent and treat the issue. With proper care, the rash should heal up just fine—however, if it persists or turns into large blisters or welts, definitely see your doctor or dermatologist immediately.
Read on to find out how to get rid of wedding ring rash and heal your skin, according to board-certified dermatologists.
Wedding ring rash, also known as wedding ring dermatitis, is a rash on the skin in reaction to wearing a wedding ring. It's usually caused by an allergy to nickel in the ring or a buildup of debris.
There are several causes of wedding ring rash, from a nickel or white gold allergy to bacteria.
Believe it or not, you could have an undiscovered gold or white gold allergy that suddenly starts flaring when you wear your engagement ring or wedding band. The reason? Both of these metals can contain trace amounts of nickel—which is the most common metal allergen out there. "Yes, it is possible to have an allergy to white gold," affirms Naana Boakye, MD, MPH, FAAD, the founder of Bergen Dermatology. "White gold is a mix of palladium, nickel, and other metals. The presentation of the rash is similar to other metal allergens—redness, scaling, and an itchy rash."
Unfortunately, a nickel allergy can develop at any point in life, so even if you weren't allergic to it when you first started wearing the ring, it's entirely possible that you are now—and that's the cause of your current wedding ring rash.
Or, you might have had the allergy all along, but the nickel salts present in the metal are only now starting to come into contact with your skin, as the metal begins to erode (water and sweat will speed up this process). This process happens no matter how expensive your ring is. As the metal wears away, "the nickel causes an allergic reaction of dermatitis to the finger where the ring is," says Dr. Sperling.
You can apply clear nail polish over the ring to separate it from the skin as a cheap and temporary fix, says Dr. Sperling.
Soaps, lotions, and even dead skin can get stuck and caked on underneath and in the crevices of stone settings, explains jewelry maker Andreas Argentinis of Metal Pressions. "Combine that dirt with a little moisture and you have a great environment for bacteria to grow that could potentially irritate your skin," she says.
It might be your soap, rather than the ring itself, that is causing the ring rash. Instead of washing with a detergent, deodorant, or sudsy soap, board-certified dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, suggests switching to a mild option. She also advises taking off your ring when you wash your hands, so no bacteria or traces of soap get caught in it. When you're finished washing, "be sure to often dry your finger fully as well as remove your ring to dry the area completely," Sperling adds.
No, you don't necessarily have to stop wearing your beloved engagement ring or wedding band if this rash occurs. Here's what you can do to stop the symptoms for good.
Whatever the cause of your wedding ring rash, it's a good idea to apply hypoallergenic hand cream. "Usually a topical Cortisone cream helps resolve the issue," says Sperling. Cynthia Bailey, MD, a dermatologist and founder of Dr. Bailey Skin Care, says people with really sensitive skin may need to follow up with extra moisture to heal their wedding ring dermatitis. "This is especially true when your hands are in and out of water all day," she warns.
To resolve the issues, "get in the habit of applying a good, non-greasy, hypoallergenic hand cream after washing." You can also use a lotion that contains ceramides, as this will protect and moisturize skin, adds Purvisha Patel, MD, owner and dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Associates.
A good cleaning will often solve the problem. "If you have a valuable or complex ring, you might consider taking it to a local jeweler for cleaning to avoid damaging the settings or stones," notes Bailey. Otherwise, she recommends using a jewelry cleaning solution, being careful to brush under stones where soap residue can become trapped and harden.
Fortunately, there are solutions that don't involve replacing the entire band—you can simply get the ring plated. Depending on the color of your metal, getting the jewelry plated will recreate the barrier between your skin and the nickel within the band. For silver jewelry, you can have a jeweler coat it with rhodium, which is a silver-hued metal in the platinum family. It's extremely durable and shiny, making a really great option for plating.
You can also get your jewelry re-plated with platinum or gold to prevent the rash from occurring. While still an investment, it's a much cheaper alternative than getting a whole new band, which is also an option.
Once you determine the cause of your ring rash and seek out treatment (such as a moisturizing or body lotion), it should clear up in a week's time. If the rash is due to an allergy, then it may take two to four weeks to completely clear up.
While some tungsten rings are hypoallergenic, not all are. Those who experience sensitivity to the metals in the ring may want to steer clear of tungsten as it's often mixed with other cheaper metals—in other words, you get what you pay for!
Nickel is not the only culprit that could cause a wedding ring rash. Other possible metals that can cause a rash are cobalt, gold, palladium, chromium, and titanium, says Dr. Boakye.
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