If you have skin that is sensitive and easily irritated, it can sometimes be difficult to find the right jewelry to wear. Some wedding bands might have allergens in the metal that can irritate your skin and cause a reaction.
There are many people out there who have experienced an allergic reaction to their wedding bands. It is commonly believed that these people are allergic to gold or silver, but the reaction is usually caused by one of the other metal alloys which are used in gold wedding bands to make them stronger. These metals, such as nickel, silver, copper and zinc are usually what causes the allergic reaction.
If you have sensitive skin which reacts to these metals, you might experience an itching or burning sensation around the area where your skin comes in contact with the ring. You might even see a blue patch on your finger after the ring is removed, or a rash or patchy red mark.
The good news is, if your sensitive skin does get irritated by these metals, you don’t have to limit your options. There are many different options out there for hypoallergenic wedding bands which will not bother your sensitive skin.
Tungsten
Tungsten wedding bands are an affordable alternative and they are 100% hypoallergenic. This is because the tungsten in the ring is actually bound to the nickel which prevents it from leaching out of the ring and irritating your skin. This is also a very strong and lightweight metal that will last a long time.
Platinum
Platinum used to be more expensive than gold, but these days the high cost of precious metals is making it look more affordable in comparison. It is a fully hypoallergenic and very durable metal and has a solid and heavy feel to it. Its gorgeous silvery-white color looks beautiful in simple wedding bands or with a few colored gemstones incorporated. Most platinum rings are 85-95% pure so that there is less chance of irritation from metal alloys.
Titanium
This metal is used in surgical tools and implants because it does not react to body chemistry. This sensitive skin option is cheaper than platinum and can come in multiple colors. Keep in mind that a titanium ring will be difficult to resize so make sure that you get the right size when you are buying your wedding bands.
Other Tips
Another way that rings can irritate sensitive skin is by trapping soap residue under the ring when you wash your hands. You can prevent this by taking off your ring to wash your hands and then ensuring that your fingers are dried thoroughly before putting it back on.
Another cause of skin irritation is sweat, so dust some baby powder around your finger before putting your wedding bands on so that it will absorb the sweat.
Having sensitive skin can make buying wedding bands a little bit more difficult, so take your time to find the right ring for you.
