Green skin from jewelry: What is it?

Picture this: You’ve just bought a beautiful new piece of jewelry. You spend the day admiring your ring, necklace or earrings, but when you remove it at the end of the day, you let out a loud groan. Your skin is now a strange green color. We’ve all been there. When your jewelry stains your skin green, it is at best, annoying, and at worst, embarrassing. It’s a common occurrence, but why does it happen? Read on to learn more about this phenomenon.  

Why is my skin green? Is it dangerous? 

Your skin turns because of a chemical reaction from the metal in your jewelry and the sweat on your skin. It can also be caused by your lotion or soap as well. According to Nebraska Medicine, it’s not dangerous, so don’t worry. 

What kind of jewelry will turn my skin green? 

We’re often told that “cheap” jewelry is the culprit of the green discoloration. The truth is that the price point of your gems isn’t the real issue. Typically, green skin from jewelry is caused by copper. Whether your jewelry is completely copper, or just has copper mixed in the metals, it can react with your sweat, lotion or soap and leave your skin green. Copper isn’t always to blame though. Certain silver jewelry can also have this effect. 

How can I get rid of it? 

Typically, you can remove the discoloration with soap and water. If that doesn’t seem to work, you can use alcohol remover. 

Is there a way to prevent it? 

You can opt for jewelry that doesn’t have copper in it. Another trick is to cover the offending jewelry with clear nail polish. This will create a barrier between the metal and your skin and prevent any unwanted interactions, keeping your skin stain-free.