Buying an engagement ring is a wonderful investment, but what can you do if the ring causes problems? Skin discoloration can be quite annoying, especially when you want to wear your jewelry on a regular basis (such as with an engagement ring). Luckily, there are ways to combat this pesky problem. However, you should first familiarize yourself with why certain metals cause such a reaction with your skin.

Sterling Silver

When sterling silver tarnishes, the result can be dark black stains on your finger that are unsightly to say the least. While some sterling silver pieces are coated to avoid this problem, the coating will eventually wear off.

Copper

While the engagement ring you’re wearing isn’t likely made from pure copper, many metals are mixed with copper which can result in that familiar green stain around your finger. Some people seem to be more prone to this kind of reaction than others.

Nickel

Many people are sensitive to nickel, but skin discoloration isn’t the only thing people with nickel sensitivity should be worried about. Red, itchy and irritated skin is a common problem, as well.

Gold

Gold will not stain your skin, but the metals mixed with gold can sometimes cause problems. Nickel, silver and copper are commonly mixed with cold – the lower the karat, the more of these metals are present in your ring, which can potentially lead to skin discoloration. Gold plated jewelry can wear away, allowing the brass underneath to stain your skin.

How to Avoid Potential Problems

Skin discoloration can definitely be a nuisance, but there are a few things you can to combat the issue or eliminate the problem completely. If you can afford to, upgrade your gold ring to an 18k model, which contains more pure gold and less of the metals which can potentially stain your skin. If you have a nickel allergy, it’s especially vital you switch to a higher carat gold or even platinum. Yes, it’s more expensive – but irritated, red skin isn’t worth it.

You can even switch to a titanium ring, which doesn’t stain. This option works especially well for people who are allergic to certain metals.

If you can’t afford to upgrade you ring, ask a jeweler if they can coat your ring with a new layer of metal or a protective film that will protect your finger and prevent the metals from reacting to your skin. You can do this yourself by painting a thin coat of clear nail polish against the base of the band that touches your finger, but this will have to be done several times a week once the polish wears off.

Regularly cleaning your ring and keeping it dry can help prevent the metal from reacting with harsh chemicals and other common household cleaners, which can cause your ring to become damaged and wear away.

While it’s not always possible to completely change your ring to avoid skin discoloration, there are other things you can do to help combat the annoying problem. Find a method that works for you, and you can wear your engagement ring proudly!