Does stainless steel turn green? What causes it to turn green?

Why Do Rings Turn Your Finger Green?

A ring may turn your finger green due to something called tarnish. A ring tarnishes and gets discolored when metals oxidize and are slightly corroded. There are many reasons why this can happen, and you can prevent it from doing so!

Causes of Tarnishing in a Ring

Before we get into each metal choice for a ring and talk about whether or not they might produce this staining effect, let’s dispel some myths and make it clear why this might happen.

Low-Quality Metal

The first question you may be asking yourself is, “Are rings that turn your finger green always of low quality?” While this may be the case in some situations, it’s not the only reason that this happens.

Not all rings that stain your finger are fake or cheap. There are actually biological factors that play into whether or not the green color will appear on your skin.

Skin Reactions

No two people have the same type of skin. Some have more acids in their skin that will react with the metal in their ring, causing it to turn green. This often happens at an accelerated rate if you tend to sweat more often than others.

Copper and Moisture

In almost any ring that you buy, you’re actually getting a metal alloy instead of one pure material. This is because a combination of these metals will add more beneficial properties that boost the longevity of your piece.

That being said, one of the more common metals that make up this alloy is copper. Copper tends to tarnish when exposed to moisture. Again, if you tend to sweat a lot, you are exposing your ring to moisture for a prolonged amount of time, causing it to tarnish and turn your finger green.

This is also true if you often wash your hands, bathe, shower, or get in the pool with your ring on.

Household Substances

One reason that your ring may be turning your finger green is that you often keep it on when applying cosmetics or are handling household cleaners. There are tons of acids and other abrasive substances in these products, which will tarnish certain rings.

Does stainless steel jewelry turn your finger green?

The quick answer here: NO, Stainless steel jewelry will not turn your finger green. Keep reading and find the answer below.

Fake gold, sterling silver, or costume jewelry may turn your finger green due to its metal content. You may think it is because of an allergic reaction or because it is fake jewelry, but the truth of the matter is that it is because of a chemical reaction on your skin. The resultant discoloration is not harmful and does not need any medical intervention.

Stainless steel is a strong and durable metal alloy with elements like chromium, nickel, and titanium. It has a unique silver finish that makes it a popular metal in jewelry designs. Stainless steel jewelry is affordable, trendy, as well as durable for long-term use.

They can competently withstand the daily wear and tear of human activities as it is scratch and corrosion-resistant.

Fortunately, stainless steel jewelry does not turn your finger green. It does not contain elements and metals that are prone to turn your finger green.

More so, stainless steel jewelry that is nickel-free is hypoallergenic. It does not cause any allergic reactions among people with sensitive skin. You may also choose to put on such jewelry immediately after a new piercing; however, surgical steel is a better option.

What jewelry metal can make the skin turn green?

Does rhodium turn skin green?

In the recent past, we have noticed one common trend; jewelers are mostly plating their jewels using rhodium. Such plated jewels develop the perfect color and smooth finish.

You will notice that they use it even over their sterling silver. It will not only prevent tarnishing and skin rashes, but it won’t turn your skin green either.

Note that rhodium is naturally a non-reactive metal, just like titanium and platinum. So it will not react with your skin unless you mix it with other metals generally, though this will never occur.

Does sterling silver turn green?

Sterling silver is on the list of the most precious metals. It features the use of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. Of course, the copper will make the silver manageable and easy to mold to different shapes.

Does brass turn green?

This is, by far, one of the most affordable metals to use in jewelry. In most cases, people use it as a base metal and then plate it with another precious metal. However, it is made of an alloy of copper and zinc, which gives you the answer.

Brass will turn your skin green. Notice that the copper in the jewels will react with your skin salts and body lotions to form a green color.

Does zinc alloy jewelry turn your skin green?

It depends on the alloy content. And although the zinc alloys that contain lead and nickel are non-hypoallergenic, such won’t cause the skin to turn. If you buy the one that’s an alloy of copper, you surely must create the green color.

As long as the oxidation will take place between the copper elements in the zinc and the oxygen in the air, then with time, it must turn green. Of course, most people want to know this because zinc alloy jewels go-to option when you are out of budget.

Although it’s cheap, it will have different tarnishing problems, causing skin allergies, and sometimes even the changing of your skin green.

Does real gold turn green?

When we are talking about real gold, we are talking about pure gold. Such gold has the best quality features. Its biocompatible, inert, good-looking, soft, and durable. Thus pure gold will never cause the skin to be green.

However, copper oxidizes in the presence of oxygen and thus forming the copper oxide. This is to say that it will turn your skin green. Nonetheless, remember the green color isn’t harmful to your skin, and as such, there’s no cause for alarm.

Unfortunately, you can’t make jewels with pure gold because it’s very soft. You will have to mix it with other metals to make it manageable. Now depending on the metals, you add to the gold, it could be a 14k or 10K real gold. It may or may not cause your skin to turn green.

The reason is that they contain some form of copper in the mix, and thus, the copper reacts with the oxygen to form the green color.

If you, therefore, subject the low karat gold types to certain atmospheres, then it will turn green.

Does aluminum jewelry turn skin green?

Anyone in the jewel world should be excited about aluminum. It’s a beautiful metal that’s non-reactive.

As such, it won’t tarnish nor cause skin irritation, but it also won’t turn your skin green. If you notice that it is tarnished, then it can only mean that it has some alloys within.

Does cubic zirconia turn your finger green?

No, it doesn’t unless, of course, you chose the low-quality one. Some jewelers will mix the cubic zirconia jewel with brass, copper, and such metals.

If, in fact, you are using the plating, then when it peels off, you can be sure it will turn your skin green.

Generally, though, cubic zirconia is an excellent metal that will not cause skin reactions.

Does copper turn your finger green?

This is the master of turning the skin green. The moment it oxidizes with air, then it starts to transform your skin green. Remember, it will also cause tarnish, just like we had already mentioned above.

As long as you wear copper metal or alloy, be sure that it will cause green skin.

Does alloy jewelry turn your skin green?

Most of the jewels you see in the market are made using alloys. Some of them are good rich and good looking while others are cheap and not so good. Depending on the metal content you have, it may or may not cause the green color.

They are mostly affordable but made using copper, bronze, and brass. Such types will cause skin discoloring. The copper element will, therefore, react with your skin to form a color change. So it’s safe to say that yes, they may cause the skin to turn green.

Does the pewter turn green?

Pewter is an excellent metal that will not tarnish as silver does, but it doesn’t cause the green color. If you used it in the plating of the jewel, you notice the color then know that the base metals seeped through. The color, therefore, has nothing to do with the pewter metals.

Does rhodium-plated brass turn green?

Rhodium plating is just rhodium metal, and it will never cause skin discoloration. However, if you notice the skin color change, then know that it’s more of the base metal seeping through again, not the rhodium plating.

But if you use the rhodium plating brass, then yes, it will tarnish because of the brass metals.

What causes stainless steel to turn green?

316L Stainless Steel has excellent corrosion resistance, but it is not impervious to rust. Chloride is an excellent rust cause with a little damp air moisture.

Some factors that cause jewelry to oxidize and turn black or discolor :

An individual’s body acid. Your jewelry may be at a higher or earlier risk if you enjoy drinking or eating foods that are high in acid like; coffee, wine, fruit juices, oranges, tomatoes, vinegar, pickles, etc. Read more at the high acidic foods list.
Prescription drugs. Certain medications like anti-depressants, sulfa drugs, some antibiotics, or even multivitamins can interact with or change a person’s body chemistry.
Cleaning products and chemicals. Direct contact with bleach, ammonia, acid, alcohol, chlorine, etc. will cause a chemical reaction to the metals of jewelry.
Menopause. Women in menopause can experience body chemistry and hormonal changes that make oxidation more possible while their body adjusts.
Extremely moist skin. Some people can have physiological or metabolic states that stimulate excess moisture and perspiration (sweat) even without purposeful exercising. Especially moist skin can interact with the 7.5% metals with green skin staining.

How to prevent your skin from turning your finger green?

No one wants their skin to turn green from wearing different jewels even though it isn’t harmful. Also though it’s sometimes not easy to avoid, you can use the following methods.

Stop buying cheap jewelry

Of course, not all cheap jewels will turn your skin green, but it’s a start. Of course, you get what you pay for. In this case, since you bought cheap jewels, it’s the truth here. If you are going to spend less, be ready to handle issues like tarnish, skin irritation, and even turning your skin green.

Keep your skin dry

Unfortunately, this is not easy. Some parts of it are just a natural process. If it’s sweat we are talking about, then such we may not prevent. Nonetheless, if you use lotions and oils, make sure the parts you set the jewels on remain dry.

Use clear nail polish.

If you are sure the type you have contains the elements that will cause the green color; you can apply the clear nail polish. In essence, that will create a barrier between your skin and the jewel; thus, no skin turns.

Avoid the copper jewelry

Copper is the number one culprit that causes the color change. So you can choose just to avoid it. Or use rhodium plating that will prevent the color change.

Clean and polish those jewels regularly

This will mean it has no room to start the oxidation process, thus keeping your skin free.

Buy other rings

You can use other rings if you don’t want the ones that will cause the green color. Choose stainless steel, platinum, or gold when you want the ones that won’t change your skin color.