A green mark under jewelry comes from copper in the metal reacting with sweat, lotion and the salts on your skin. A black mark is usually silver tarnish rubbing off, or makeup and lotion abrading the metal. A red mark is often fit or an allergy. Even solid gold can leave a faint mark, because karat gold contains copper and silver.
Discovering a green ring around your finger is unsettling, especially under a piece you paid real money for. It is almost never a sign that something is fake, and it is almost always fixable. Here is what each color means.
What each mark means
| Mark | Usual cause | Common with |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Copper reacting with sweat, salts and acids | Copper, brass, plated jewelry; some lower-karat gold |
| Black or grey | Silver tarnish rubbing off; metal abraded by makeup or lotion | Sterling silver; gold alloys containing silver |
| Red, itchy | An allergic reaction, often to nickel | Some white gold, base metals, worn plating |
| Red, pressed | Fit: the piece is too tight, or swelling | Rings, bracelets, heavy pieces |
Green skin: copper
Green discoloration comes from a reaction between copper in jewelry and the salts and acids on skin, from sweat, soap, lotion and some foods. The copper forms green compounds that transfer to your skin. It is harmless and washes off.
Copper is in more jewelry than people expect. Brass and bronze are mostly copper, much plated jewelry has a copper-alloy base, and karat gold itself contains copper. Lower karats contain more, so 14K yellow gold is more likely than 18K or 24K to leave a faint green tint on some people, particularly in heat, after exercise, or with lotion trapped under a ring.
Black or grey skin: tarnish and abrasion
A black or grey mark is usually silver tarnish transferring to your skin. Sterling silver tarnishes, and gold alloys that contain silver can do the same faintly.
The causes of green and black marks are explained by Science Notes.
Jewelers also see dark marks from makeup and sunscreen. Products containing hard, fine particles can act like a very mild polish, wearing microscopic metal particles off the jewelry, which then show up dark on skin or a collar. Letting products dry before you put jewelry on helps.
Red or itchy skin: allergy
Itching, redness and small bumps under jewelry are usually a contact allergy, and nickel is one of the most common causes; the American Academy of Dermatology estimates it affects more than 18 percent of people. Nickel appears in many base metals, in some white gold alloys, and underneath worn plating. Solid yellow gold is generally one of the safer choices. If a reaction persists, see a doctor.
Prevalence and safer metals are from Banner Health.
Red pressed marks: fit and weight
A red line that fades after you take a piece off is usually pressure. Rings tight in the morning may be fine at night, and the reverse in heat. Heavy necklaces and bracelets can leave a mark where they press, and soft tissue takes a little while to recover after hours under pressure. If a ring leaves a deep groove, it is too tight; if a chain marks your neck, it may be too heavy or too short for comfort.
Can solid gold turn skin green?
It can, faintly, and it does not mean the gold is fake. 14K gold is 58.5 percent gold; the rest is copper, silver and zinc, and those can react with some people’s skin chemistry, especially with sweat and lotion trapped under a ring. Higher karats contain less copper and are less likely to mark. A fake or plated piece tends to mark more strongly and more quickly, and the mark worsens as the plating wears.
How to stop jewelry marking your skin
- Clean jewelry regularly, so oils and old lotion don’t build up on the metal.
- Put on lotion, sunscreen and makeup first, and let them dry before your jewelry.
- Take rings off to wash your hands and for exercise.
- Dry your skin and the jewelry if they get wet or sweaty.
- Choose solid gold over plated, and higher karat if you mark easily.
Our jewelry care guide covers cleaning.
Skin marks FAQ
Why does my ring turn my finger green?
Copper in the metal reacts with sweat, soap and lotion and leaves harmless green compounds on your skin.
Does real gold turn your skin green?
It can, faintly, because karat gold contains copper. It does not mean the gold is fake.
Why does my gold ring leave a black mark?
Usually silver in the alloy tarnishing, or makeup and lotion wearing tiny metal particles off the ring.
Is a green finger harmful?
No. It washes off with soap and water.
What jewelry won’t turn skin green?
Higher-karat gold and platinum mark least. Plated and brass jewelry mark most.
Why do I get a rash from my earrings?
Most often a nickel allergy. Choose nickel-free metals such as solid yellow gold.
