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Original poster

I am allergic to my engagement ring

54 replies

FiddlesticksAndCustard · 19/01/2019 13:19

Always had slightly sensitive skin, ring is white gold and is causing a really painful rash on my finger.

I'm gutted as I love it and don't want to take it off! Does anyone have any recommendations for allergy coatings/home remedies?

OP posts:
AltogetherAndrews · 19/01/2019 13:25

It’s unlikely to be the ring if it is gold. It’s more likely that you are getting moisture or soap under the ring when you wash your hands which isn’t drying and is causing the rash. Take the ring off for a couple weeks, use some hydrocortisone to clear the rash up, and then when you put it back on, either take it off every time you wash, or make extra sure you are rinsing and drying under the ring.

Bombardier25966 · 19/01/2019 13:28

I was going to suggest the same as Altogether. I get the same reaction from watches and rings, and it's the moisture not the ring itself.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 19/01/2019 13:28

I hey the same, it’s water and not drying your hands properly.

PoutySprout · 19/01/2019 13:30

I was hospitalised shortly after our wedding due to a severe nickel allergy. Had to have my jewellery remade in platinum. Can’t wear any sort of gold, and have to have high grade sterling silver, bit cheap. White gold is plated with a mix of metals which includes nickel.

It’s a growing issue, possibly linked with ear piercing.

I no longer wear any jewellery.

ApolloandDaphne · 19/01/2019 13:31

I get that when i wear my eternity ring. It is soap and detergents etc building up underneath it. Make sure you remove it when you are cleaning or doing anything with soap and dry your hands properly before putting it on. Maybe it needs to be cleaned?

Bluebell878275 · 19/01/2019 13:34

I had the same and I was gutted until I clocked I just hadn't been rinsing and drying off enough..don't get the rash anymore.

BuffaloCauliflower · 19/01/2019 13:35

It’s not unlikely at all AltogetherAndrews white gold isn’t pure gold, it’s mixed with other metals which one can absolutely be allergic too and often are. This is why I made sure my engagement ring was platinum to avoid this.

OP - you can try painting the inside with clear nail polish which should help but isn’t a long term solution. The metal will also likely wear down over time and the problem get worse, I’ve had friends who were fine with white gold at the start but over years as it wore down the problem got worse. The long term solution is getting a different ring or getting it remade in platinum, which is hypoallergenic

Original poster
FiddlesticksAndCustard · 19/01/2019 13:37

I hadn't thought of that really but I do wash up with it on so that could certainly be a reason.

I've got some hydrocortisone cream already so I will put some of that on until it goes down and then try the drying/taking off when cleaning etc...

OP posts:
Original poster
FiddlesticksAndCustard · 19/01/2019 13:38

Thanks, I'll try the coating too in case. Ive not had it very long Sad

OP posts:
Osirus · 19/01/2019 13:38

It depends on the gold content of the jewellery, the higher the content the better. I have reactions to jewellery. My rings are 18c yellow gold. No reactions at all.

BuffaloCauliflower · 19/01/2019 13:44

@FiddlesticksAndCustard is it definitely the right size? Not too tight or too loose? Make sure you’re drying under it properly, but it may well just be the metal. If it’s really new it could just be your finger adjusting, the first couple of weeks I wore mine I got itchy red bumps all around my finger while it adjusted, I looked it up and that was normal, now I have no problems at all. So it might be that.

adaline · 19/01/2019 13:45

White gold will be mixed with nickel which is a really common allergen. I was allergic to my engagement ring and DP had to get me a new one as my finger was bleeding and raw.

It's a really common thing to happen - either get it plated or get a new one. My jewellery has to be sterling silver or yellow gold else I react!

Original poster
FiddlesticksAndCustard · 19/01/2019 13:51

There doesn't seem to be a problem with size, I think it's a pretty good fit. Smaller and it would be too tight but bigger I think it would like fall off.

I had just been for a walk with the dog when it started so perhaps it is the wet although with my skin it wouldn't surprise me if it was an allergy.

OP posts:
Original poster
FiddlesticksAndCustard · 19/01/2019 13:52

Likely*

OP posts:
Servernotslave · 19/01/2019 13:53

Clear nail varnish on the inside of the ring should stop irritation

hendricksy · 19/01/2019 14:07

It's the rodiium plating. I'm a bit allergic too, it turns my finger black 😬

LittleRen · 19/01/2019 14:08

You definitely can be allergic to white gold as it has nickel in it - I have a white gold allergy.

However I get a rash with my platinum rings and it’s what everyone has says, they get damp etc. Mine is like eczema. A few applications of hydrocortisone sorts it out for me until I start being careless again and do more washing up without drying my hands.

Original poster
FiddlesticksAndCustard · 19/01/2019 14:10

It's like a red rash with bumps. Similar to when my eczema flares.

OP posts:
mintbiscuit · 19/01/2019 14:15

I thought I was allergic to white gold as had exactly the same thing. My 2nd engagement was platinum to avoid this. Still happened. Turns out it’s contact dermatitis - google wedding ring dermatitis!

I remove all bands for any washing and completely in evening until I go out next day. Stops it coming back

SeaShelll · 19/01/2019 14:17

This happened to me also... my finger went red and sore. I found that there was moisture underneath from where I’d bathed and washed up etc. My finger also swelled slightly after I fell (racing up the stairs like you do at 30 Grin) so caught it and made the sores worse.. it’s probably dermatitis caused by hands been in products or water and not drying properly. When you was your hands move your ring and dry under it. Also use hand moisturiser but make sure to rub it in properly. I should have known this on myself cuz I work with skin and know all about dermatitis but silly me didn’t think to move the ring when drying. Hope urs is better soon. :)

I am allergic to my engagement ring
BuffaloCauliflower · 19/01/2019 15:28

I had a red rash with bumps for the first couple of weeks (also have eczema) but it did then clear up. Try making sure to really dry that area and see how you go, if it’s not better in a few weeks then it’s probably an allergy

Missingstreetlife · 19/01/2019 18:49

Rubber gloves?

Claudia1980 · 19/01/2019 19:08

Could be a rhodium allergy which is what white gold rings are coated in. In which case platinum would be a better choice. It could be that moisture is getting trapped under your ring and causing dermatitis. Is your ring a flat band or is is hollow underneath? If it’s hollow you can get a jeweller to fill it in and that will sort the issue. If on the other hand your ring is quite wide and flat then you may always have this problem with your ring and have to change the design to a thinner band.

MakeItAmazing · 19/01/2019 19:19

I wouldn't be painting your ring with nail polish.

It might not be the damp hands. After kids I can't now wear white gold or rose gold. Can't wear anything but 22/24 carat yellow gold.

MakeItAmazing · 19/01/2019 19:30

18!

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