Rash on my ring finger

[sufficientforme]

Exactly what I was thinking, if it started out not bothering you and has started it may have worn off all the rhodium plating they use on white gold to keep it looking new and not tarnished. It is not too expensive to have redone.

 

[MetalSmitten]

what type of metal is the ring? sounds like a bit of an allergic reaction to the metal itself, the trapped water helps to speed up chemical reactions. (i'm actually a silversmith by trade, i know my metals hehe.)

Then you should know that the Nickle in White Gold, even good white gold often causes an allergic reaction. ~gd

yes... i do know that, i just didn't know what metal her ring was when i asked. nickel is often my first suspect, but nickel isn't in all rings. regardless, a lot of commercial white gold is actually plated with rhodium, since white gold is less "bright" than the other white metals, and plating gives it the brightness that people expect.

OP - is this reaction relatively new, or has it always done that when wet? if it's started happening recentlyish, i would think the ring is/was rhodium plated, and the interior plating has worn off, exposing nickel. if it's always done this, it probably just was not plated originally. (if you look super closely at the ring after it's been cleaned, is the inside or the back a slightly different tone/color? that would indicate worn-off plating.) either way, you can take it back to the jewelry store and have them rhodium plate it, and that should fix any exposure to nickel. for something like an engagement ring, having it plated will be prettier and more long-lasting than nail polish. more $$$ though. and you'll probably have to have it re-done occasionally over the years. if it's always done this AND it's plated, then you probably have a problem with rhodium, and you can have them remove it.

 

[MetalSmitten]

Exactly what I was thinking, if it started out not bothering you and has started it may have worn off all the rhodium plating they use on white gold to keep it looking new and not tarnished. It is not too expensive to have redone.

^ beat me to it

 

[sufficientforme]

Exactly what I was thinking, if it started out not bothering you and has started it may have worn off all the rhodium plating they use on white gold to keep it looking new and not tarnished. It is not too expensive to have redone.

^ beat me to it

I have worked for several goldsmiths when I was younger, I have forgotten a lot but I have redone the plating , it's a pretty neat and fast process

 

[MetalSmitten]

Exactly what I was thinking, if it started out not bothering you and has started it may have worn off all the rhodium plating they use on white gold to keep it looking new and not tarnished. It is not too expensive to have redone.

^ beat me to it

I have worked for several goldsmiths when I was younger, I have forgotten a lot but I have redone the plating , it's a pretty neat and fast process

neat! ever work for anyone i might have heard of? it's amazing the stuff you can do with metal, hehe.

 

[sufficientforme]

Probably not, they were in the Portland, Tigard, and lake Oswego Oregon area close to 20 years ago. Typing that made me feel really old

 

[curly_kate]

I've had the ring for about 6 years, and it's always done it, but it's not a constant thing. Thanks for the ideas! I might try the nail polish first before I do anything that will cost money.

 

[Lesa]

It happens to me and I have always assumed it was a reaction to the soap, that doesn't get rinsed off-under the rings...

 

[k15n1]

When I get water underneath my engagement ring, I end up with this nasty rash which is a whole bunch of little, kind of itchy bumps. I try to be very careful to take my ring off when I wash my hands, but when I don't, it pops up. Anyone know what it is, and what I can do to fix it? Neosporin will help dry it out a bit, but doesn't usually make it go away completely.

Put clear nail polish on the part that touches your skin.

My mother has trouble with nickle, and this is how she treats the back of her watch. The stuff rubbs off after a while, so you may have to re-treat it ever few years.