Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Rash from Ring? Fixed by Boiling in vinegar & Peroxide!
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Q. I am so glad I stumbled across this site. I have a similar problem. I have a sterling silver (925) mesh Tiffany ring that I have developed the exact same rash under. It is red, itchy, bumpy, and very painful.
I do have eczema, but hydrocortisone creme does very little. It is not an allergy - I have tried antihistamines. The interesting thing is the rash only occurs on my right index finger. If I wear the ring on any other finger, it is fine. I do believe the soap/ bacteria theory, as moisture absolutely gets trapped under there if I forget to take it off before washing my hands.
My question, does the vinegar
⇦in bulk on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links] / hydrogen peroxide solution work on silver, or will I ruin my ring? Is it safe to boil silver? Do you boil it in the vinegar solution or in water?
Thanks!
- Washington, DC
December 30, 2009
Sorry, Kara, I don't know the answer to that one. I suspect the solution would be bad for silver, and especially for any anti-tarnish coatings on the silver -- but I don't know.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 30, 2009
Thank you the vinegar and peroxide did the trick for my ring. I used equal parts of each though. I also poured just peroxide on my irritated finger and to my amazement the next morning it was 75% better than the night before. Thank you
- new Orleans, Louisiana
January 7, 2010
Boiling your rings isn't needed. I had the most AWFUL rash that went from my ring finger to my middle finger & palm there between. I have 2 10k rings soldered to a 14k to complete a set. I had this rash for a lot of years & am on my third set of rings,nearly giving up on this set of rings as well, this is how I not only cleared up a nasty rash but keep it away. (My husband had the same problems, by the way only after having a heart attack);
I place my rings in a disposable plastic cup, sprinkle baking soda to nearly cover them, pour Hydrogen Peroxide to cover all and SLOWLY cover that with vinegar. I let them sit overnight and use a soft toothbrush and a small dab of toothpaste and scrub the rings inside & out, rinse well, DRY WELL and wash & dry my hands before putting them back on.
I do this once every 2 weeks faithfully and have not had a rash since.
I was told by the jeweler who inspects my rings every 6 mo. that it was not damaging them & he has not seen such a nice shine on a ring even at his store! Double plus! I hope this helps everyone as well. Rings collect a lot of yukky stuff. When your "fizz" settles in the morning, closely look at the "floaters" on the surface of the mixture. It will make you sick! No wonder our fingers were "sick"!
- Fremont, Ohio
January 12, 2010
I have nickel allergy, too. I found a kit to test things for nickel at the Athena Allergy web site. It's call "Nickel Solution Detect and Protect." To use Nickel Alert, you rub some on the metal for 15-30 seconds with a Q-tips ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . If it turns the cotton swab pink, there's nickel in it. To use Nickel Guard, apply 2-3 coats to the item, waiting 15 minutes between coats. Retest with the Nickel Alert every so often to make sure you get the continued protection from the Nickel Guard. It's about $25 on the Athena Allergy Web Site, but I've seen it in other places online. You can probably ask your pharmacist about it.
Crystal Golias- Seymour, Connecticut United States
May 16, 2010
May 19, 2010
Well after 2 years the same thing has happened also to me I said my husband bought me a Platinum ring? I thought maybe it was fake...I went to one of the best doctors in Miami, Dr. [name deleted by editor] at Mercy hospital and he said this was impossible for me to be allergic to platinum and not to white gold, so I changed my rings to the other hand and BINGO now I had that red flaky nasty itching on the other finger?
I think we are either ready for new rings or our hubby's picked the wrong rings for us!I can tell you I have put everything on my finger and the best result is just keeping it off!
- Miami, Florida
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Ed. note: it was nice of you to compliment the good doctor, but we've deleted his name because some people don't want their names put out on the internet this way.
Hi all, just as an FYI, 99% of you here are definitely dealing with a fungal/yeast infection.
Commonly caused by, yes moisture between the ring and the skin. While drying etc is good, you can't really stop it, wider rings are obviously more prone as are rings with notches or cutouts. Sweat under the ring will greatly contribute to the rash. As to why it happens years later, normally rings get a little less round over the years, we tend to flatten the bottoms (palm sides ) a bit and that also contributes. Heres a few hints for you that work nicely. Obviously any anti-fungal, like athletes foot cream or powder work very well on your finger. So does female yeast infection over the counter remedies. Once you have ended the rash, do not just put the ring back on. While some people say boil it, I wouldn't do that, some rings have coatings on the gemstones for specific color effects, so be careful.
However, a brief soak in rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide and a light wash and dry with soap and water is just fine.
If you find this a recurring issue, visit your jeweler and have him or her round the band out and also see if they can stretch it a bit. Also the very cheap fix is to get a nice clear coat nail polish and coat the inside of the ring. Works great for men's rings especially.
- Weymouth, Massachusetts
June 17, 2010
A. Hi
I found this discussion forum out of desperation when, after a year, I suddenly found that I was allergic to my platinum rings. I visited my jewelers and they suggested painting clear nail varnish onto the inside of the rings, which I did. This helped for a couple of days, but then the rash came back...BUT I have accidentally discovered a real solution- Silicone wound barrier spray. You can get it over the counter at chemists and it's usually used for people with things like stoma bags, etc. It forms an invisible, waterproof (so you can wash your hands without any worry of it coming off) barrier for my skin and I've had no more allergic reactions while using the spray. I wash and dry my fingers very carefully every morning, spray on the silicone spray and let it dry- then I put on my rings. I have to take them off at night still, but it's a small price to pay and saves me investing in metallurgy testing which I haven't got either the time or money to have done yet. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU....
- Bham, United Kingdom
July 16, 2010
Q. I am having the same symptoms but now my ring won't come off. Is there something that I can do to start the healing process so I can get them off to clean them?
Krysta RODIGOStay at home mom - Hay, Virginia, USA
September 9, 2010
Q. What if I am allergic to silver? Would I be allergic to platinum as well?
Denise Stephens- Warrensville Hts, Ohio USA
October 1, 2010
I have been married for 14 years and have always worn my platinum wedding ring. About 3 weeks ago I got this dark red ring under the ring. It was itchy and it stung. I just finally took my ring off yesterday in hopes that by not wearing it for a while, the rash will go away. It really is irritated. Will try hydrocortisone cream.
- Denver, Colorado US
November 10, 2010
Q. I have been having the same problems with red, flaky, burning skin on the sides of my finger. The ring is platinum plated Sterling that came from a reputable well known company so I was surprised to have this reaction. I would like to try the peroxide/vinegar solution but does anyone know if this will damage the ring because it is only plated?
Alanna Hayes- carat, Texas USA
November 13, 2010
I have had the same issue with my wedding ring! I have had my ring for 2 years without any problems and now all of a sudden I have a red itchy rash - my skin flakes, red bumps/water blisters! Crazy that so many people have experienced the same issues! I have tried Neosporin, Benadryl, anti-fungal creams and it will go away and then as soon as I put the ring back on it comes back. Last night it was so itchy that I woke up! Thank you for all the posts! So glad I found this website.
Lisa Fitzpatrick- Greenville, North Carolina
November 23, 2010
Yes, like almost everyone else I have developed a rash on the "back" of my ring fingers. But I have been wearing jewelry of various metals for over 55 years. I have known for many years that cheap pierced earrings caused intense itching which I suspect is from nickel because when I buy nickel-free cheap earrings I do not have any problems. It was about 10 years ago that I started purchasing 14k gold rings online from the 2 major TV retailers and then about 2 years after wearing the rings, it appeared that some kind of coating must wear off because it is then that I develop a rash. I wear my own wide gold wedding band on my left hand and my husband's (I'm a widow) wide gold wedding band on my right hand. Both these rings are 45 years old.
But I attempt to wear rings I purchased from the TV retailers on the middle fingers of both hands. (These are the rings that cause the problems.) I know these rings are made in China. I suspect that just as China has given us lead in the paint of children's toys and poisoned our pets, that it is virtually impossible to guess what might be in the gold or platinum or any other precious metal that they sell in the US. I would also suspect that many "good" jewelers are also sourcing materials from China - it's just a fact that in order to be competitive merchants are always looking for cheaper sources. It may also be that as the market looks to China for ever cheaper materials, the more reputable sources of quality materials will go out of business because they can't compete. I am going to try the "cleaning" suggestions and the nail varnish and will post back the results.
As to the body of chemistry of the YOUNG women vs the rest of us, I suspect that the younger you are, the more likely that the metals used in your newer rings have come from a source such as China regardless of the retailer you bought them from.
Georgette Cullen- Phoenix, Arizona, USA
November 29, 2010
A. I have a white gold set of rings that are rhodium plated. I had the same problem, and was trying to find out what to do. I would take them off, clean them good, put triple antibiotic on my finger until it seemed to heal, then put the rings back on and the same thing would happen (a reddish rash under where the rings touched my skin). I have a ring on my right hand that this did not happen with, and I noticed that the rash was confined to the area where the diamonds were (so bacteria could have accumulated there due to moisture and caused a form of athletes foot). To test this possibility, I took off my rings (cleaned them and put them on the dresser to dry all night), put Lotrimin (athletes foot medication) around my ring finger, and put a band aid on it overnight. The next morning the rash was gone, I put my clean and dry rings, and haven't had a problem since. I hope people read this and I hope it helps them.
Kristi
- Waukon, Iowa, United States
January 12, 2011
Great to see many others are having the same issues I have been. I developed an allergy just as described here after wearing my platinum wedding rings for 7 years and after having children. I do suspect that there are a variety of reasons this is occurring - environmental with the water and soap ingredient seems to be key. This, combined with having my hands in water far more than I ever did before children may be the true culprit (rather than hormonal as some have suggested). I am washing my hands more frequently than ever. I am going try the peroxide/vinegar solution and see if that works. I went to a dermatologist and was prescribed a steroid cream, but I can't use that forever. It does clear up the redness, but it always comes back after wearing the rings a couple of days. Good luck to everyone here! And thank you for having a forum devoted to this.
Suzanne A. [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Arlington, Virginia, USA
January 25, 2011
A. Hi
I am a bespoke jeweller in the UK and an expert on precious metals. Platinum isn't really a known allergen so real allergies to platinum are very rare indeed. However, most people who think they are allergic to their engagement rings are actually allergic to tiny amounts of detergent (usually liquid soap) which get stuck behind the opening of the stone behind their engagement rings. This causes a nasty contact dermititis which is a nasty, itchy, flaky rash. Here is an article I wrote about this subject. I am a jewellery designer myself and I have sensitive skin and had this exact same reaction myself so I know about this from both sides!
www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Help---I-Think-I-m-Allergic-To-My-Engagement-Ring/2073261
I hope this helps somebody,
- Hitchin, Herts, UK
March 3, 2011
Q. I AM SO HAPPY THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. SO ANNOYING HAVING A BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND PLATINUM RING WHICH I KEEP IN A JEWELLERY BOX. WONDERING ABOUT THE vinegar AND PEROXIDE, AS IN, WOULD IT DAMAGE THE DIAMONDS. HAVE TRIED ALL THE OTHER CREAMs, etc. AND SWITCHING TO THE OTHER HAND, BUT IT'S THE SAME.
Margaret Lee- Dublin, Ireland
April 26, 2011
A. Hi, Margaret.
As you see, we've heard no reports of damage to diamonds from this cleaning process, but that's not a guarantee. And I'd make sure the temperature change was gradual and the ring is not bouncing around hitting stuff.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April 27, 2011
After almost 2 months of trying every eczema and rash combination I could find, last night I followed the instructions and cleaned my ring in vinegar & peroxide followed by a 5 minute boil in the same solution. It's amazing!!! I've worn my ring all day with no irritation and in fact the ever present swelling on my ring finger has gone down. This solution works!!!
- Los Angeles, California
May 20, 2011
Ok so I just wanted to say that this site has been very helpful...I'm not really sure what exact type of metal my ring is but I am having the same thing happen...then it will go away for a little while and come back again. I don't wanna get rid of my ring because it was given to me by a very good friend who passed away. I wear it every day..through everything and I also consider it to be good luck also! I'm not really superstitious but I do know that a lot more good things happen when I'm wearing it then when I'm not! Thanks again this has been very helpful!
- las vegas, Nevada, usa
August 3, 2011
I have platinum rings. The rash is just a result of bacteria and whatnot that builds up over time. The solution is to boil the rings in 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 2 parts vinegar for 15 minutes. I do it once a month, and have no issues. Trust me, it's not a metal allergy (I have an allergy to gold, and this is far different). Trust me, this works!!!
- Atlanta, Georgia USA
September 7, 2011
I am stunned that there are so many people having the same issue as me. Got married in 2004 and within two years my white gold wedding rings caused a severe reaction and it looked as if something was eating away at my finger. After removing my rings and putting them back on I realized it was them causing the problem. I got rid of the white gold rings and had some amazing yellow gold 18K ones made, now about 4 years later I am getting the same reaction from the yellow gold. We are coming into summer and I wonder if it's the heat that's trapping moisture underneath or if my sensitivity is getting worse with age. It is so disheartening not being able to wear them, I will look at doing the vinegar & peroxide I think. My mother suffers from extreme dermatitis and I have been having the same thing happen with 9K gold rings; life is stressful as well so I am considering a metals sensitivity test.
Erin HancockHobbyist - New Zealand
November 16, 2011
I had the same problem with my platinum engagement ring. The wedding ring wasn't a problem - so I knew it wasn't an allergy. It felt like some sort of flesh-eating bacteria, to be honest, so I found I could clear it up with Bacitracin and Neosporin. BUT the vinegar and peroxide remedy worked WONDERS on my skin and I'm fairly sure boiling the ring in salt water killed whatever else was hiding in the crevices. I noticed as the rash healed that it matches the pattern of crevices on the underside of the ring.
- Canton, Connecticut, USA
February 21, 2012
In response to:
"Yet my understanding is that metal allergy is absolutely skyrocketing in young women, and is not nearly so much of a problem in men or in older women. So, while it is not impossible that young women have a different hormone situation that makes them more subject to problems with aluminum, I personally have been open to believing the reports that strongly link metal allergy to nickel-based body piercings (which seem to match that demographic very well), and slow to ask these young women to blame it on their deodorant or antacid."
I wonder if the problem could be due to birth control pills (which obviously change the hormonal environment). After 8 years, I recently, at 34 years of age, became allergic to my white gold wedding ring. I do not body pierce (finding it rather gross), but I do take a pill. I also have other allergies. It just occurred to me that young women, rather than men, or older women are more likely to be taking birth control pills. Thoughts?
- Detroit, Michigan, USA
February 22, 2012
A. Hi, Suzy. I am not an epidemiologist and I have no medical qualifications whatsoever, so I am unable to comment on your posting except to say thanks for raising a possibility that hadn't occurred to me.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 23, 2012
I just wanted to say thanks for the advice in this thread - the vinegar and peroxide solution worked wonders for me. You could see the bubbles rising from the ring as the nasties were killed off - really gross but something really satisfying about it too! I soaked in the vinegar and peroxide for about an hour and then boiled it in water in a tea strainer. I boiled it from room temp water for about ten minutes - I think that bringing the water to boil with the ring in it might be a good idea because it won't 'shock' the materials with a temperature change. Finger is all better, ring is really shiny and lovely. I nearly had a heart attack doing it but it seems to have worked!! Thanks for all the help and advice
- Limerick, Ireland
March 13, 2012
A. I have a white gold wedding band with about 10 diamonds in it. I wore it for a year and no rash until about 6 months ago. This problem has nothing to do with allergies. The problem is that from wearing our rings as long as we have, we have worn down some of the gold/platinum on the back where the pointy part of the diamond is, leaving our skin unprotected. The reason we are getting these blisters is because the pointy part of the diamond is making small cuts in our skin. Also, if you have gained weight or have bloating in your fingers (which I have) the problem worsens because now your skin is even closer to the sharp part of the diamond or diamonds.
To God be the glory! When doctors/experts can't figure out the real problem, prayer always works. God knows everything! :)
Shelly O'Malley- Madison, Wisconsin USA
April 11, 2012
I know everyone is saying that Rhodium allergies are very rare and say that you're reacting the nickel that's mixed with the gold, however I know I am allergic to Rhodium. I wear a lot of cheap jewelry and the only thing I've ever reacted to is Rhodium. The 'silver' jewelry by Lia Sophia is triple plated Rhodium over copper. The triple plating is supposed to be an excellent coating, it takes my skin about 2 weeks to eat through it. I purchased a ring in Italy made from Rhodium over nickel and my skin ate through that in about a week.
Sam Price- St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
May 1, 2012
Q. Thanks for all of this information. It is good to know that I'm not alone in this weird reaction. The bad news is that now my finger is so red and swollen that I can't get my ring off. It just happened a few weeks ago. I had been taking it off at night and when I was at home but I got fed up with the stupid rash and wanted to wear my beautiful ring and now I can't get it off. I'm so annoyed and in a lot of pain. I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow but if you have any ideas on how to get this off without cutting off my finger than I'd be so grateful!
Amy Hann- Springfield, Virginia
June 7, 2012
A. Hi Amy. Sorry for your problem. If you can't get it off with soapy water, the doctor will probably cut off your ring or send you somewhere to have it done. Then your ring will have to be repaired by a jeweler, so maybe you should just have the jeweler cut it off before your doctor visit.
If you are losing circulation in that finger, an emergency room or maybe even your fire department can cut it off now.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
June 7, 2012
Thank you all for posting...I have been so frustrated by this painful rash. I, too, have a platinum ring and after wearing it for about 6 years it started causing this rash. I swear it happened after I had my first child. It wasn't so bad before, but now after 11 years and my second baby it is horrible, within hours of putting my ring back on after I haven't worn it for weeks (and my finger is healed) it starts itching and breaking out. I thought it was from weight gain, but then I lost the weight. I thought it was from dirt/bacteria so I cleaned it with all kinds of stuff. I have heard about having it re-dipped, so we'll have to see if I'm allergic to the platinum then it might be worth it. First, I'm going to try the peroxide/vinegar solution and hopefully this works.
Carol M. [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Oakley, California, USA
June 15, 2012
A. Hello everyone. I was experiencing the same thing. I had my wedding ring for about a year and then Bam! One day it starts to irritate my finger, turning it red, inflamed, and even swollen over time -- which can be very dangerous! I did a little research and here's what I did. They say it's highly unlikely to be allergic to the Rhodium coating they usually put on gold rings to make them more durable (not that expensive). So what happens over time that coating wears down from everyday use and the other metals from your gold ring you may be allergic to. Hence why it takes so long for a reaction. So I took my ring back to the jeweler, had them coat the ring in Rhodium again, then I now put deodorant on my ring finger in the morning to keep my finger from perspiring and you know what ... No More irritation!! I just figured it only gets irritated when you perspire or your finger gets wet and the metals are allowed to get into the skin. So what keeps you dry and stops perspiring? Deodorant. Try it, what do you have to lose? We all want to keep our beautiful rings that mean so much to us so give it a try!! It works for me no problem ever since and you may have to get your ring dipped every so often because that rhodium coating does wear off. So that's all. Thanks everyone -- I hope this helps you,like it did for me!
Amy [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- Rochester, Michigan
September 5, 2012
Thanks Amy. If deodorant actually keeps fingers from sweating it's quite a clever idea.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 20, 2012
Q. Hi All, my problem is slightly different because within 1 week of wearing my beautiful new white gold rings which I bought in the States my rash started. So I think it may be the nickel as I do have sensitive skin and eczema and have problems with cheaper costume jewellery. Do you think that the peroxide and vinegar will work as I don't think the bacteria you are talking about could have built up within 1 week of wear? Many thanks in advance.
Catherine
- Monflanquin, France
December 17, 2012
A. Hi Catherine. It certainly sounds like nickel rash, which probably won't be helped with peroxide and vinegar. Sadly, once you've been exposed to too much nickel and have acquired the allergy, it's for life. Although nickel is not allowed in jewelry or items in intimate contact with skin in the European Union, we have no such consumer protections in the USA.
I'd suggest seeing a doctor to confirm that you've acquired nickel allergy. If so, you must now check all jewelry (and jeans, bras, or anything with metal in it) that you buy in the USA for nickel; if that's not practical, you can't buy such items in the USA anymore.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 18, 2012
Thank you to finishing.com and all of you who have posted you problems and solutions/results on here. I too was having a rash underneath my Platinum wedding ring set. At first I thought it was due to cleaning and having my hands wet a lot. Then I thought it was due to cold weather, but when the problem was getting worse with the red, dry cracked skin that would get little clear blisters that would pop, ooze and then burn and itch, I just couldn't take it anymore! The rash started to spread up my knuckle and up the back of my hand. It was so bad that I never wanted to show my hand or my ring to anymore in fear that they would think I had a disease. I would occasionally take my ring off (sometimes for days) to let my finger have a break, but as soon as I would put my ring back on the rash would come right back (so frustrating). So one day I found this site and started reading everyone's comments and decided to try the vinegar/Peroxide solution and IT WORKED!!! I took a little glass bowl and put 2 parts (2 tsp) White Distilled vinegar to 1 part (1 tsp) Hydrogen Peroxide and let my rings sit in the solution for an hour then rinsed them off and then boiled them for 5 minutes in water (was too afraid to leave them for too long), then let them dry. I then decided to do the same 2:1 vinegar/Peroxide solution and soaked my finger and in it for a half and hour and then rinse in hot water and to my wonderful surprise it worked. I have been Painful Rash free for almost 2 Years now. I have read that vinegar has a way of helping and restoring the pH balance in people's skin. I now use 1:2 Apple Cider vinegar/Water as a toner on my face to help clean, tone and lighten my acne scares and dark spot. I also drink 2 tsp with water before I eat a meal and it has helped me to feel full and eat less, helping with my 15 weight lose. Got to love the Natural wonders of vinegar. Hope this helps anyone who is going through this.
- Elk Grove, California
January 21, 2013
Q. I've been having the same problem with my engagement ring that everyone else seems to be having, and I'm curious to see if the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide would work for me. My only concern is that instead of a diamond, the center stone on my engagement ring is a lab created emerald. I am wondering if anyone else has experience with this solution who has an emerald in their ring.
Thanks!
- Huntsville, Texas, United States
March 26, 2014
Q. Hi everyone I have been married for over ten years and about a year and a half ago I started developing the same dry irritation on my ring finger,so I started wearing a ring less, about two months ago I stopped wearing my ring all together but the rash continues to get worse and spread to other finger. Does anyone know what could be causing it to continue to be irritated even though I no longer wear my ring?
Patricia jenkins- Raleigh, North Carolina USA
August 19, 2014
Q. How many on this thread have chronic pain disorders? I'm beginning to think mine is just that. Doesn't matter WHAT kind of metal, gives me what looks and feels like poison ivy. Watches do it to me, too, even plastic backed ones where no metal touches my skin. Only place I can wear jewelry of any kind more than a couple hours is with hoop earrings. I really would appreciate knowing if a large percentage of folks on this thread have fibro, chronic fatigue, ME, Ehlers Danlos, etc. Thanks in advance!
Lacey Malliard- Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
October 24, 2014
Q. I originally had a platinum engagement ring and wedding band which was totally fine until about 4 months after I had my daughter at which point I developed the same dry, itchy, irritated rash everyone talks about. My jeweler explained that some women become allergic to different metals due to hormones after giving birth. I had the ring remade in white gold (after testing a white gold ring for a few weeks) and eventually the rash came back even with the new metal. Recently when I wear my ring I not only develop a rash on my ring finger almost instantly but I am also developing a sort of sympathy rash on my right hand even when I don't have a ring on my hand. Does this happen to anyone else?
Suzanne Shatzel- Buffalo, New York, USA
October 28, 2014
I've had ring rash for about 8 months I tried the peroxide and vinegar mix. 10 minutes later there were things floating in the bowl; after 30 minutes I removed the rings and scrubbed them with unscented hand soap, then boiled them in water for about 10 minutes. The ring feels so much better and so far no more rash.
- CHARLOTTE North Carolina
December 23, 2014
Q. Can anyone tell me how much vinegar and how much peroxide to use? This would be for 2 rings.Thanks.
Gail Green- Phila Pennsylvania USA
June 15, 2015
A. Hi Gail. Several people suggested 2 parts vinegar to 1 part peroxide. How much you need depends on how big your pot is and how you arrange them. I'd probably put a chopstick over the pot rim, then use string to hang the rings into solution rather than letting them bounce on the bottom when the solution boils. I would start with room temperature everything. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
June 2015
Thank you all so much for posting. I was devastated to not be able to wear my beautiful platinum wedding ring set because of a terrible rash that developed during my second pregnancy after 5 years of no issue. The hydrogen peroxide/ vinegar and boil olution worked for me. So grateful!
Did not damage my beautiful very high end platinum ring.
- NOVATO, California, usa
September 18, 2015
Q. What type of vinegar to use I am having little red bumps on my ring finger and they will not go away I love my ring my husband got me I need help thank you
Ashley Keyes- Easley South Carolina Pickens
May 30, 2016
A. Hi Ashley. No harm is white vinegar, but I doubt that it makes any difference. But nickel allergy is also a real thing, and unfortunately that's what it may be.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
May 2016
I was about to get rid of the rash with cortisone cream but it came back when I put the ring back on. Trying boiling in peroxide and vinegar now!! Thanks for the tips.
- Kansas City, Missouri usa
June 24, 2016
Q. Hi. I used to wear and 18 karat ring years ago with no problems. I have recently married and have a 9 kt white gold wedding ring. I have a dry red rash on the top and white skin underneath where it looks as though not enough air is getting to the finger. Do I boil it?
Don Reed- Crawley. West Sussex, England
August 12, 2016
!! Wow, so many with the same exact problem I have been having! I am married 6 years and after 4 years I had the red blustery rash that itches and burns when I wore my rings. It started in the summer when my hands are wet a lot because of playing with water tables and sprinklers with the kids. It was irritating but as Fall came my rash was gone which I thought for good! But a year goes by and another summer it's back! It's now Fall and my hands are not wet as much but here I am still wondering how to get rid of this rash! As soon as I take my rings off and later my hands with every time of lotion and ointment I can find it looks better but as soon as I put my rings back on it comes back in the matter of hours! It literally woke me up middle of the night it was so itchy then it got a bit painful! I'm going to finally try boiling my rings in the peroxide and vinegar and wait to put my rings back on until the rash clears. I hope it does the trick! It makes me so sad I can't wear my rings because of this.
Margaret Arcasdia- Rochester New York US
October 9, 2016
Thank you so much for this info!! I have been suffering with this rash for 5 years now on my finger and have only been able to wear my wedding ring for special occasions as the rash will reappear within a day! I am certainly going to give the boiling method with vinegar, etc. a try as it seems to be the obvious solution to the problem.
I noticed some people wondering about a nickel allergy. I wondered as well but if you tape an actual nickel to the inside of your arm for 24 hours you will see if you have an allergy. To my surprise, I didn't react to the nickel so here I was trying to buy a nickel free ring to replace my wedding ring and that would not have make any difference. -Will keep you informed about how the boiling method works for me. High hopes!!
- Penticton, BC Canada
October 30, 2016
I'm so glad I found this post. I've been married a month and I have the red itchy poison ivy look on my finger. I didn't know what I should do. I feel terrible when I don't wear my ring but it causes so much irritation
I take it off every night. I've used alcohol swabs and all kind of creams on my finger but it's not going away. So I'm going to try the 2:1 vinegar and peroxide mix. So ill let y'all know if it works for me.
- Spartanburg, South Carolina
June 15, 2017
Q. Can anyone tell me if you have to add water to the pot with the vinegar and the peroxide? And exactly how much of each ingredient? My ring finger looks so gross and itchy ... I can't wait to try this method and see if it works! Thanks so much for anyone's quick response.
Gina Piro- Eatontown, New Jersey, USA
June 18, 2017
A. Hi Gina ...
Jennifer G started the discussion, mentioning 2 parts vinegar, 1 part peroxide. No one has mentioned trying any other ratio; I doubt that it's critical. Most people seem to have soaked in the mix for about an hour, then boiled in water for 10-15 minutes.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
June 2017
Q. I just boiled my rings and they turned black as two are silver and the other is rhodium plated over silver. What can I do now?
Eva A Auguston- Clarksville, Tennessee
July 12, 2017
A. Hi Eva. Never put different metals together in a conductive solution, as one of them can sometimes de-plate and plate out onto the other. So do one ring at a time next time, and for any other fixes. When you're stuck in a hole it may not be a good idea to dig deeper, so maybe a visit to the jeweler is in order :-)
But we do have many threads about removing tarnish from silver. Rubbing toothpaste is one solution mentioned in, for example, letters 43774 and 45756; aluminum foil and washing soda
⇦this on
eBay or
Amazon [affil links]
is another solution mentioned in, for example, letter 4785. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
July 2017
Q. Can you do this with a sterling silver ring?
Keasha Bellamy- Owensboro, Kentucky
August 27, 2017
A. Hi Keasha. Several people on this thread, including Eva just above, have reported that it turned their silver rings black. While you can probably get them shiny again with toothpaste, per the answers we just gave Eva, I doubt that anyone will put a finer point on the answer for you. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 2017
July 16, 2017
Hello everyone. I was doing research for my boyfriend online because a Titanium ring I bought for him a year ago has been giving him rashes here and there.
Upon my research I concluded that,
1. He needs to take off the ring regularly and wash his hands more. Bacteria grows under the ring over time. So washing will help.
2. The peroxide/vinegar technique that was mentioned earlier for cleaning! Thoroughly clean the ring until it's nice and shiny, making sure you get all the bacteria off.
3. After cleaning the ring, COAT the inside of it with clear nail polish.
I think this sounds like valid steps that I will try out soon. Hope it helps!
UW Student - Marysville, Washington, US
! I just can't believe how many people have the same issue.I developed this rash in my early twenties took me forever to get rid of. Now I am in my 60s and it's back again. My finger is a red rash blistering hot mess only on the sides of my finger. I have gone without wearing the ring for weeks it heals put it on back again. I read to also put a clear coat of polish on the bottom and sides of the ring. I will be trying the vinegar peroxide cleaning too. Good luck everyone! Happy healing.
Janet York- Clinton Township, Michigan
September 4, 2017
I just want to add to this thread that I had briefly read over the comments and I had been experiencing the same rash from my ring. I was so excited to finally be able to wear my ring again!! I let me rings sit overnight in a vinegar and peroxide mix. I woke up and RUINED ALL MY RINGS!! It should really be notated in the title of this thread that this is a fix for platinum or gold. I am so upset!
September 27, 2017
A. Very sorry for your troubles, Laura :-(
Many people have reported that the tarnish on silver rings can be easily removed with toothpaste and a cloth though; please see letter 43774 and see if that works for you, and get back to us.
Despite some readers having claimed success with soaking overnight, overnight is oa very different thing than 15-30 minutes, and I'd be cautious about that being safe for any rings let alone silver ones because that might be sufficient time for pitting or other damage; others have also said that their silver rings turned black, but haven't gotten back to us about attempted removal of the blackening -- please be the first!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
September 2017
Q. I have the same problem with the skin irritation as well with my Pandora Ring which is sterling silver. Will my ring be okay if I boil it in the vinegar and peroxide? I just don't want to damage it.
Kailey Pour- Troy, Ohio, United States
October 11
A. Hi Kailey. At least three women on this thread, including Laura immediately above, said that it turned their silver rings black. Nobody has yet gotten back to us regarding our suggestions to try silver polish or toothpaste to fix the blackening, so we don't know how severe or permanent the blackening was. Or maybe they got to like the blackened look ... we do have several threads on this site about how to aesthetically blacken silver :-)
It wouldn't surprise me if the vinegar & peroxide also tarnishes low karat gold, since that may contain a good amount of copper and/or silver. Still, when someone badly wants to wear their ring, but can't because the skin irritation is too maddening, accepting a certain amount of risk might be the only practical approach. When you get a lead on a potentially good way to do something you sometimes just have to try it; few of us can spend months & months researching the absolutely perfect, positively mistake-free, way to paint a birdhouse. Life is short, and requesting certainty may be too much :-)
Luck and Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 2017
So happy to have found this site. An answer to one question "does anyone have chronic pain or fibromyalgia that this is happened to with the rash under the rings...?". Yes I do have both severe chronic pain and a severe fibromyalgia as well.
I do want to thank you all for describing that rash; mine was swollen and red & itchy & Flaky & irritating and OMG I'm going directly into the kitchen after I finish this post and put these Rings, all seven of them that I wear 24/7, and it's part of some type of boiling water and suspend them some type of way and then soak them in the vinegar and peroxide. Just too many people have recommended this and had it work for them. Nothing beats a failure but a try and this is just an awful and ridiculous rash for someone that is especially a jewellery lover and gemstone collector.
Also, to answer one other question, yes I do wear a real emerald not a lab-created and also develop the rash under that, and I also where a lab-created 5 carat blue spinel with Platinum over sterling silver that I've gotten that horrid rash pretty much on the top and the sides of my fingers like everyone else it doesn't seem to go all the way around my fingers. Thank you to all of you I hope you have saved me from a lot of irritating itching and suffering. Now perhaps I can return to showing off and loving all of my rings and still wear them 24/7. Everybody take care and God bless.
PS I'm licensed and trained manicurist for many years and never have I seen this type of rash on anyone's hands so again I want to say thank you for this blog.
Sara white
manicurist - Goodettsville, Tennessee USA
November 25, 2017
A. Good luck Sara. But don't let rings of different metals touch each other while in an acid solution like vinegar.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
November 2017
A. One add since this process didn't completely solve my problem: if you have recently worn your rings in a hot, sweaty climate (Hawaii in my case), you may have some sort of fungal infection. Gross, but easily curable. If your skin is scaly, itchy, and red, try an Athlete's Foot cream in the area in addition to boiling and cleaning your rings. Keep your rings off until the skin is totally clear the water that gets under your rings no matter how carefully you dry them will exacerbate the rash. A friend who backpacks a lot recommended it to me after seeing my rash and it cleared up within a week after bothering me for months.
Katie Kanty- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
November 16, 2018
I am so grateful to this group for solving my problem. Occasionally my wedding rings cause the rash others described. The hydrogen peroxide & vinegar soak makes it go away! I will add that the rash comes often after preparing raw chicken or turkey without gloves. Anyway, this post was life changing and I wanted to say thank you!
- Bay Area, California
August 20, 2020
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