Greetings, our dear readers! Remembering the dashing nineties, I now laugh at one story that excited our children’s hearts then. It was rumored that gold had some magical powers. And we willingly believed in it - otherwise how could we explain why the finger under the gold ring turns black? Not otherwise than from the evil eye!
And only in my second year at university, during lectures on inorganic chemistry, I learned that the reasons for such blackening are much more prosaic. Today I will try to tell you about them in detail.
Causes of skin darkening from gold jewelry
There are not many real reasons why wearing gold leaves dark spots. Conventionally, they can be divided into two groups: internal reasons, when the problem lies in the product itself, for example a ring, and external reasons - the skin turns black under the influence of environmental factors. Let's look at each of them.
Domestic
The 79th element of the periodic table, gold, is rightly called a noble metal. It does not oxidize, does not react with virtually any substance, does not darken itself and does not leave blackening marks on the skin. Yes, if marks appear in your ears under the earrings, the reason is not in gold at all, but in its “neighbors”. The fact is that this precious metal in its pure form is very soft and malleable and easily deformed.
Therefore, jewelers use it only in ligature with other, harder metals: silver, platinum, palladium. Platinoids are almost as inert as gold, but they are often replaced by cheaper zinc, nickel or copper.
If you bought a ring and noticed that the skin underneath soon began to turn black and a dark stripe appeared, most likely the product was of poor quality. So, if there is more than 50% copper in the alloy, such jewelry will soon color the skin a cheerful dirty green color.
External
It also happens that a trusted grandmother’s ring of the highest standard was sent to a jewelry salon for cleaning, and after that the skin underneath it darkened. The reason is jewelry paste and a not very conscientious craftsman who did not bother to properly rinse the product after cleaning.
Or, after a year or two of married life, the skin under the wedding ring suddenly began to darken, although before that everything was fine. If this happened to a young wife, perhaps we are talking about an imminent addition to the family. Changed hormonal levels during pregnancy sometimes lead to oxidation of the ligature. It is this process that is responsible for skin turning black with gold.
There is no need to worry about this, but it is still better to remove the jewelry: during pregnancy, due to fluid retention in the body, the fingers may swell, and soon the ring will interfere with normal blood circulation.
Changes in hormonal levels or the composition of sweat can lead to blackening of the skin in men, so if the skin under your usual ring begins to turn black, this is a reason to think about internal changes in the body or even visit an endocrinologist for prevention.
Allergic reactions occur quite often when wearing gold jewelry. In this case, the blackening mark from the ring, chain, or bracelet will be impossible to wash off with soap and water, and it will have a reddish tint. As a rule, such a reaction occurs to one of the components of the jewelry alloy or to detergents, sometimes even to ordinary hand soap.
If you wear the ring without removing it and it fits tightly on your finger, particles of detergent will remain under it. The skin becomes irritated and turns black.
Among a number of external causes of blackening marks from rings and even chains, experts sometimes name cosmetics. However, among the usual compositions approved for use in the cosmetics industry, there are no such compounds that would be capable of oxidizing traditional jewelry alloys.
That's why. if gold reacts to a change in hand cream and the skin under the ring turns black, this brings us back to internal reasons - most likely, you got a low-quality alloy.
Superstitions and signs
Another theory about the reasons for skin turning black from gold is widespread among people who are convinced of the magical power of the yellow metal. Most often, this category of gold lovers has little knowledge of chemistry. It is believed that the solar metal contains powerful energy and can protect against evil forces. Well, or at least react to them.
Therefore, if you run a gold ring across your cheek and it leaves a dark streak, it means you have been jinxed. And if the skin under a gold ring turns black, it means that it has absorbed negative energy and “notified” the owner of the evil intentions of one of his neighbors.
As an experiment, I have been running the ring over my face every evening for almost a week now - so far there is no trace. One of two things - either no one wants to spoil me, or my ring corresponds to the declared 585 standard gold.
Extrascientific theories
Man by nature is a creature who seeks a mysterious background in everything. This feature did not bypass the question of the reasons for the body’s reaction to gold. The most incredible signs include:
- Evil eye . People believe that gold attracts evil glances. Ordinary envy and an unkind word can be interpreted as an unprofessional conspiracy for failure. And the gold jewelry, having darkened, thus “warns” the wearer of danger;
- Negative energy . The person himself accumulates unpleasant emotions: evil, envy, discontent. And noble metals supposedly have the ability to absorb negativity. Particularly suspicious people believe that if gold turns black, then this is a reason to go to church to cleanse the soul;
- Mystic . Every “fortune teller” will confidently confirm that a person has damage. And especially if the place under the jewelry has turned black or, in general, the product has cracked. It's even worse when it comes to a wedding ring. Naive persons are ready to give their last to take away the homewrecker, or to lift a plot to death.
Psychologists have also developed a theory regarding darkening of the fingers. According to her, a person may avoid bright and sparkling things due to stress. And the stripes that appear are a reflection of internal nervous tension.
There is no doubt that for every seemingly incredible thing there is a rational explanation. And if the situation seems mystical, then it is better to simply change the jewelry and continue to follow the rules for wearing precious items.
What to do if the reason is not clear
It happens that it is not possible or desirable to establish the authenticity of a ring, but you don’t want to part with it. Or, on the contrary, you verified the purity of the sample, checked your health, made sure there were no allergies, but the skin on your finger still turns black. In this case, you will have to put a little more effort into caring for the ring:
- Do not wear it all the time, take it off at night and every time before washing your hands.
- Do not use cosmetics for at least an hour before putting on your ring or bracelet.
- Wipe the product in contact with the skin both before putting it on and when taking it off.
By following these simple rules, you will reduce the likelihood of a blackening oxide film. In any case, the reason for the blackening is not in gold, but in its alloys, and you still don’t want to wear jewelry made of pure gold.
Some recommendations
When using gold jewelry, you should adhere to some rules:
- wearing gold jewelry is allowed only after cosmetics have been completely absorbed;
- Extreme care should be taken when cleaning gold jewelry. Gold is a very soft metal; there is always the possibility of damaging the jewelry if not properly cared for;
- A simple solution of ammonia or laundry soap is suitable for cleaning gold products. You should place the product in the solution, and after a while simply wipe it with a soft cloth.
Before you get scared, you need to try basic measures to eliminate the possible causes of darkening.
First, you should clean the jewelry well, and be sure to remove the gold before doing housework. If no result appears, it is worth checking the metal for quality in the laboratory. However, if everything is in order, the decoration is of high quality, and the unpleasant phenomena resume, you should see a doctor for a general examination.
But there is no need to panic; most likely, the reason lies in poor hygiene or the purchase of counterfeit jewelry. There is no need to completely deny yourself the pleasure of wearing gold rings if your skin has darkened. Such phenomena usually disappear without a trace within a week.
Why are other metals added to gold jewelry?
999.9 standard gold is a very soft and ductile metal. And very heavy. Thus, a pendant in the form of a droplet of pure gold with a diameter of only 2 cm will weigh almost 500 g, and it can be easily scratched even with a fingernail. Therefore, in order to increase strength, reduce specific gravity, and also give gold an unusual color, other metals are added to the alloy. Thus, the presence of copper gives the alloy a pleasant pink tint, platinum adds noble white, and when alloyed with silver, gold turns green!
Not the least important factor in the choice of metals for the ligature is the cost of decoration, so often an alloy can contain up to eight different metals. It is they, or rather their oxides, that are the culprits of the blackening stripes on your fingers.
Household chemicals
Household chemicals are often aggressive to the environment. This is what often causes black marks to appear. Due to the harmful effects of household chemicals on the skin, doctors strongly recommend cleaning your apartment only with rubber gloves. Many people neglect this rule and end up with not only dry skin, but also dark marks from gold jewelry.
Possible consequences of black marks and ways to eliminate them
Often people, noticing that the skin on their finger is turning black from the ring, begin to worry greatly, suspecting either a defect in the product itself or serious health problems in themselves. However, other than aesthetic unattractiveness, blackening traces of oxides do not pose any particular danger if allergic reactions are excluded.
To remove the mark, just wash your skin thoroughly with neutral soap. Don't forget to wash and dry the product itself.
Bad ecology
Statistics show that people living in big cities and near busy highways are more likely to notice dark spots on their bodies from wearing fine jewelry. This is a direct dependence on the polluted environment.
Exhaust fumes, factory emissions, and smog can also react aggressively with gold and cause black streaks. Each gold item contains a certain amount of copper. It is copper that reacts to poor ecology and oxidizes, producing such an unpleasant effect as a black mark from a ring or chain.
How to avoid darkening of the skin
Rarely do dark marks remain on the neck from the chain; most often the skin under the ring turns black. To prevent jewelry from streaking, you need to follow simple rules:
- Buy jewelry only from stores you trust and ask for a quality certificate.
- Do not take gold with a purity lower than 585.
- Choose expensive alloys. White gold with nickel looks no worse than with platinum and palladium, but nickel allergies are common.
If you already have jewelry that has a habit of leaving black marks, try to identify the cause. If you take it to a salon for cleaning, you need to thoroughly rinse off the remaining polishing paste: rinse the jewelry several times in warm water, and the leather will stop turning black.
If the reason is a change in cosmetics, go back to the one in which the rings did not oxidize and did not stain your fingers. Don't forget to take care of your jewelry - wipe it often, take it off when bathing and cleaning.
Cosmetics
It happens that the traces that gold leaves on the skin arise as a result of the use of certain cosmetics. Conditioning agents may contain zinc oxide. This compound can also be found in medications used for skin lesions.
Not only zinc oxide, but also sulfur compounds react with gold. Then the dark marks left on the skin are the result of a chemical reaction taking place. It also happens that someone may be allergic to gold, or more precisely to alloying additives. The most common symptoms are swelling, redness, or irritation of the skin. Less often dark spots.
The yellow metal has special properties: it was believed that it expels evil spirits, gives women beauty and fertility, and strengthens relationships.
In addition, there is a theory according to which human sweat changes its composition when a disease occurs and changes its structure. Perhaps there is a rational grain in the theory, and it is worth checking your health. The practice of wearing rings suggests that the same product may or may not leave black circles on the skin at different times in a person's life. Poor-quality mercury-containing cosmetics and creams are probably to blame, but a health check will not hurt anyone.
Methods for cleaning blackened gold
To return gold art to its original, pure color and shine, it must be cleaned.
If your gold jewelry has become too dark, normal cleaning methods will not work. In such cases, it is necessary to use abrasive cleaning agents. Such products must be used very carefully, since along with the blackness they can remove the golden layer.
- You can replace aggressive products with toothpaste or powder. Apply the paste or powder to a damp flannel cloth and rub in gently (you can use a soft-bristled brush instead of a rag).
- After completing the procedure, the remaining toothpaste or powder is washed off with a dry cloth, and the gold itself is wiped off with a cotton swab moistened with ethyl alcohol.
Nowadays, gold jewelry can be found in every woman's jewelry box. Therefore, every young lady knows firsthand about the problem of dark marks that appear after wearing gold for a long time. Having understood the cause of their occurrence, getting rid of this unpleasant and frightening black rim on the skin will be quite simple.
Adviсe
If you want your jewelry to last you a long time, then wear it only at the right time.
You may be interested in: What does it mean if you dreamed of a gold chain?
You don't need jewelry while exercising, taking a bath, or even sleeping, so take it off. This way there will be no risk of a reaction and there will be no plaque.
Don't forget to polish your jewelry at least once a year - this will restore its shine and presentation.
If you do this less often, you will need a rougher polishing, which will lead to thinning of the product.
Choose jewelry wisely and care for it carefully, then it will become your pride and will be able to please your grandchildren.
