18k gold and irritation

[JustaCatholicGirl]

Please forgive me if I''m in the wrong section, but I know people are very helpful in SMTR.

I''ve been married for several months and engaged since Oct 2007. My ring is 18k white gold, it''s eternity on the outside so the only gold that shows is in the inset and on the top and bottom of the rings. So since my chemistry makes rings turn yellow pretty fast, I''ve just ignored it b/c you can''t really see any gold.

However, recently in the warm months, I''ve developed a nasty rash that I''ve never had before. Is it a senstivity to gold, or what? My rings fit fine. Anyone know how to get rid of a rash like this, and is it indicative of a deeper problem? Seems strange that this happened all of the sudden two months ago.

Any advice would be great. It looks so ugly, and I don''t want to stop wearing my rings!

 

[D&T]

are you allergic to nickle perhaps? there are some vendors that don't use nickle in their white gold, but to be safe, if you like the white metal look, you may want to consider platinum?

ETA: a few years back I had a rash on the underside of my rings, (i was not allergic to gold, I wear yellow gold ring) it was due to all the perspiration and the heat, I did develop a rash, but it quickly went a way when I stopped wearing my rings for a short time. maybe you need to air out for a little and let your rash heals, and try it on again, if it comes back, then refer back to my first sentence.

Sorry you are going through this

 

[JustaCatholicGirl]

Actually, is there a way to remove any trace of the rhodium? I prefer the way it looks yellow gold with my style of ring, but it''s kinda half white/half yellow now!

I suppose I should try and not wear it for at least a week...stinks, but you may be right.

Thanks much...

 

[D&T]

another thought I had was that my SIL started to get ezcema around her ring area, she used one of my prescribed cream and it quickly took it away. But try the least expensive route first, air dry, then maybe seek medical advice if it returns, they can maybe tell you more if its due to alloy mix and over time your chemistry just doesn''t "mesh with it anymore"

 

[simplysplendid]

I think it is the nickel in the 18kt white gold. I''ve heard that the better jewelers use palladium or something instead of nickel, so it won''t cause irritation.

 

[fierypyropixy]

"Ring rash" was what popped into my head first off.

My rings are white gold too, and I was two years into my marriage (engaged for eight months before that) when all of a sudden, I would have a bit of an itchy, sort of scaly, rash just under the rings. They fit perfectly, I clean them about once a week, and I always take care to rinse them out when there''s a chance of soap or cleaning product harbored in them. I was wearing them 24-7 and now I find that if I don''t sleep with them on, and clean them every two to three days, I don''t have them itch.

I''ve always thought that maybe I just set myself up to be prone to ring rash since I wore them so constantly for the first nearly three years.

 

[GossamerAngel]

In my experience in the jewelry business, most people aren''t allergic to pure gold or platinum, it is typically the nickel or other base metals found in the alloys that are mixed in higher concentrations in lower karat gold. A true platinum allergy is really unheard of. However, in 18kt gold, the amount of gold is usually high enough so that you don''t get a reaction even *if* you were allergic to one of the alloy metals - same thing with platinum (because it is so pure). That said, it is quite possible that you are experiencing a type of contact dermatitis that has more to do with water or soap/lotion being trapped against your skin and causing a reaction (and not the metal itself). This is what happened to me a few years ago when I wasn''t very diligent about taking my rings off whenever I showered/washed my hands - same thing with a friend of mine and her platinum rings.

 

[taterbites]

I have heard that sometimes pregnancy can affect metal allergies.

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 8/25/2009 4:26:16 PM
Author: JustaCatholicGirl
Actually, is there a way to remove any trace of the rhodium? I prefer the way it looks yellow gold with my style of ring, but it''s kinda half white/half yellow now!

I suppose I should try and not wear it for at least a week...stinks, but you may be right.

Thanks much...

There is a way to remove the rhodium, but it''s not likely that the rhodium is causing the problem since rhodium is a pure metal (in liquified form for plating). If your ring is solid 18K white gold, your problem is the alloy (most likely the nickel but it could be zinc too) in your 18K white gold.

I''d wait until the hot weather of summer is over and see if your finger improves any. The combination of perspiration on top of your sensitivity might be making the whole situation worse. If the problem persists, the best thing to do would be to have your stones reset into a platinum or palladium mounting as someone else suggested. Both are basically hypo-allergenic because they''re only alloyed with other members of their noble metal family. (no silver, nickel, copper or zinc)

 

[musincy]

My sister and I are both allergic to nickel, and we both have bad reactions to most metal jewelry. The only kind I''ve had no problem with is platinum. Everything else has caused itchy or painful rashes.

 

[Jypsie]

Oh, I''ve experienced the same thing - at the time that I got the rash I had been married for 8 years and engaged for 2 years prior to that. I thought for sure I was allergic to the other metals in my white gold rings. I brought the rings to my local jeweler, explained the problem, and she suggested that I have the rings platinum plated. She cleaned them up for me and plated them that day. I have not had a problem with the rings since - and it''s now 2 years later. I am going to go get them replated soon as they have been getting a little tinge of a golden color.

But... no more rash, and that''s what counts