What if my jewellery leaves a mark on my skin?
Under normal conditions gold won’t tarnish or corrode, but there are generations of stories about ‘not being able to wear gold.’ Research into the ‘gold smudge’ has revealed five basic reasons why gold can sometimes leave a black mark or a rash.
- Sometimes skin secretion and perspiration contain chemicals which react with the molecules of other metals in the gold alloy. This can happen when changes occur in body chemistry, for example during pregnancy.
- Outside chemical influences, such as cosmetics, hairsprays and perfumes may sometimes be to blame for the ’smudge’ – always allow these products to dry before putting on your jewellery.
- Air pollutants form industry may cause the ‘smudge’ which can rub off onto the skin when jewellery is worn.
- Minute particles of dust or powder may be embedded in the skin which can result in extremely small particles of gold alloy being rubbed off and left on the skin.
- The fifth and least likely cause may be allergy to gold or one of the other metals in the alloy, such as an allergy to nickel which is commonly used in fashion jewellery and in some white gold.
