Do you ever notice that your skin turns green after wearing your favorite necklace or bracelet? If so, you're not alone. Many people experience this, but what and why does it happen? In this blog post, we'll explore the causes of skin discoloration after wearing jewelry and offer some tips on preventing it. Keep reading to learn:

• What causes the skin to turn  green after wearing jewelry
• What to do if your skin has already turned green
• Which pieces of jewelry are most likely to cause your skin to turn green
• How to prevent skin from turning green

What causes the skin to turn green after wearing jewelry

When copper oxidizes, it turns green. Oxidation is the same process that causes pennies to turn green over time. When copper comes into contact with oxygen, a chemical reaction occurs, and a copper oxide film is formed on the surface of the metal and occasionally on your skin. Exposure to moisture or pollutants in the air and cosmetics (like lotion and fragrances) accelerates this process. When this film builds upon jewelry, it can cause the jewelry to turn green. The green color is from the copper oxide film, not the metal itself. The color may rub off onto the skin in some cases, causing a temporary green tint. 

Additionally, skin allergies to nickel are common. About 36 percent of women under the age of 18 have a nickel allergy, according to healthline.com. Once a nickel allergy has developed, it’s unlikely to go away. A nickel allergy can include additional inflammation as well as skin discoloration.

What to do if your skin has already turned green

If your skin has turned green from jewelry, it should be washed away with mild hand soap and warm water. Fill a bowl or basin with warm water and add a few drops of milk hand soap. You can also scrub with a nail brush, but be gentle - you don’t want to damage your skin. 

If the green is a bit stubborn and doesn’t seem to wash away quickly, you can step up your washing power.  Fill a cotton pad or swab with rubbing alcohol and rub over your tinted skin until all of that stubborn green is gone! After removing the stains, wash with mild soap and warm water, pat dry, and apply lotion to your skin because rubbing alcohol is drying the skin. Remember to be gentle.

Which pieces of jewelry are most likely to cause your skin to turn green

This green skin reaction is more likely to happen with costume jewelry made with lower-quality alloy metals.  Fashion jewelry is made-up of base metals and simulated stones. These pieces are made with brass, copper, pewter, or aluminum. Fashion Jewelry is also called costume jewelry. Remember that every individual’s skin reacts differently based on their body’s chemistry, so what turns you green may not react the same for somebody else.

How to prevent skin from turning green 

If you’re in love with a piece of jewelry that’s turning you green, there are a few ways to deal. Some recommend using a clear coat of nail polish on inexpensive costume jewelry because it acts as a barrier between the metal and your skin. You can also have gold or silver-plated jewelry re-plated by a jeweler. Jewelry is often coated with rhodium before it leaves a factory, and a jeweler can also replate this. Buying high-quality jewelry that’s solid gold, sterling silver, or platinum is less likely to turn skin green than more inexpensive fashion jewelry. So shop Nueva Luxe today and turn your friends green with envy, not alloys.