letter 33777

Platinum Wedding Ring now causes rash?

+++++++

Just wanted to weigh in on those who have remarked on two things: First, that a platinum allergy is impossible or nearly so. This is absolutely false. If you search the medical journals you will find several studies showing that a platinum allergy, while not very common, is certainly not nearly impossible or exceedingly rare.

Second, that aluminum cannot be related to allergies. This is also false. Aluminum has a very, very potent effect on the human body. Aluminum is the ONLY vaccine adjuvant licensed for use in the United States. An adjuvant is anything that can cause the body to create antibodies (to simplify it all). Aluminum is used in vaccines because it causes the body to react to the harmless antigens (altered virus or bacteria) that the body would not otherwise respond to at all. Without the aluminum, many vaccines would be completely useless. Aluminum practically FORCES the body to create antibodies, whether or not it is adsorbed to any particular protein or anything else. Studies have shown that you can inject aluminum into an arm and the antigen into a leg and still get the same result (immunity). Since allergies occur when the body creates antibodies to harmless substances, and aluminum causes the body to create antibodies to substances to which it is not in any way bound, it is extremely simplistic to believe that, because aluminum is abundant in the environment, it cannot cause allergies. Draw your own conclusions, but as a researcher in the field, I can assure you that aluminum is almost certainly a factor in the increase in the incidence of allergies. We are exposed to more now than we have ever been in the history of humanity - a LOT more.

Rebecca H
- Corpus Christi, Texas

I just wanted to thank finishing.com for this forum and for all of those who have posted. Four years of marriage with and suddenly the same rash that I assume most of you have had. I am trying the 2:1 distilled white vinegar: hydrogen peroxide [link is to product info at Amazon] solution now. Extremely grateful for all the info...thanks.

Joshua T
- Clemson, South Carolina

Just want to give everyone an update. I soaked my rings in the vinegar/peroxide solution for about an hour. Then I boiled them in water for 15 minutes. I waited until my rash healed before I started wearing my rings again - but I am happy to report that I have been wearing the rings again with no problem. I am optimistic since this rash would appear within a day of wearing the rings. I am so glad to have come across the information here. I starting having this problem after wearing my platinum rings for almost 10 years! Thanks to everyone who posted!

Melissa B
- East Greenwich, Rhode Island

wow!! Who knew so many folks had all these issues with their rings!
After wearing my engagement ring which is white gold for 5 months with no issues, I put my wedding band on a couple weeks ago and all was fine until a few days later when i got this dry, red itchy rash on the inside of my finger.
I put a and d ointment on it and it sort of cleared up, so i put my ring back on and got the rash again.
This is so weird, I have had my rings on my other hand while my finger heals and it's fine on the other hand, no rash or anything.
So i think that you have to make sure that after you have washed your hands or anything like that, that you take the rings off and dry them very well, and your hand.
I'm going to try the solution thing that has been suggested and let you know how that works.
Thanks for posting that it's a big help!!!

Jen H
- denver, Colorado

Writing in response to Ted's request for males with an irritation/allergy apparently due to Platinum rings. I am 24 and have had my ring for less than three months and am experiencing the exact same symptoms as all have written about here, red rash-like irritation directly underneath a Platinum Wedding Band. I have never had a piercing of any sort. The band is a product of Benchmark Jewelry. I will try the Vinegar/Hydrogen Peroxide solution tonight in hopes of alleviating the irritation. Thanks to all for the advice!

Chris M
- Nashville, Tennessee

Has anyone here had a problem with palladium rings? I have an 18k white gold ring that I began experiencing problems with during my first pregnancy (within one year of getting the ring) and by the middle of my second pregnancy, the red itchy sores on my ring finger had begun to blister and weep clear fluid. So frustrating! After researching on the internet I assumed I had a nickel allergy and have been considering trying to replace the ring with either platinum or palladium - but considering how many people seem to have those allergies as well, I am wondering if I shouldn't go back to the drawing board. Maybe I should get a metal allergy test, and if not allergic to nickel, perhaps I could try the peroxide-vinegar solution... Also, does anyone have experience with Titanium? At this point, I'll settle for any metal that won't give me a rash... especially with two small children, I feel quite uncomfortable when not wearing a wedding band.

Thanks for any info you can pass my way...

andrea b
- San Diego, California

Thank heavens for the internet.

I thought I was all alone, until stumbling on this site.. Thank everyone for all of the information. I've been wearing a white 14k white gold wedding ring for 3 years, and started to get an irritated, itchy, now blistering skin underneath on the front of my finger. I left the ring off my hand for about a day or so, and it cleared up. Wore it and it kept starting again. I wore in on my other hand for just a day, and started to see symptoms on that hand as well.

I've tried jewelry cleaner, alcohol and nothing has changed.

I'm going to try the cleaning solution with the peroxide and vinegar and boil the ring (scary).

If this doesn't work, I'll go to the doctor and get tested for metal allergies.

Naomi J
- Chicago, Illinois

I can't believe I found this site but I too have developed the rash under my engagement ring after wearing it for 8 months with no problem. I went to the dermatologist today and he gave a prescription for .1% fluocinonide cream and also a recommendation for Theraseal Hand Protectant. It's like a liquid glove you can paint on your finger before putting on your ring which would inhibit contact. My ring is PT950 and while it is rare, he said I could be allergic to the platinum and also that frequent hand washing had most likely exacerbated the problem. He didn't recommend testing for metal allergies yet but that whatever it was, once an allergy "turns on" it takes some work to make it go away. He was confident I wouldn't have to have my ring dipped so hopefully it helps. Anyone come into problems (ruining their ring) by the peroxide combo?

Karen W
- Charlotte, North Carolina

I tried the peroxide and vinegar. No luck...rash came back. So weird; after four years of wearing the ring and suddenly: rash! Oh well, let me know if anyone figures this out for sure. Thanks!

Joshua T
- Clemson, South Carolina

I have been married for 12 years and I had a diamond gold ring. Never once have I gotten a rash from that ring in twelve years. I don't think it has anything to do with soap build up or fungus. It obviously has something to do with being platinum. I got a very expensive platinum ring for Christmas 2006 and wore it for 6 months with no problems. After six months I noticed that the finish seemed dull and one day my finger felt like it was on fire. I have had a red rash ever since(as it clears up it gets dry and scaly). I will take off the ring for a few days and it will clear up and as soon as I put it on immediately I get a rash. I can wear silver, gold , and even fake cheap jewelry and this is the only thing I am allergic too. I feel like the ring is coated and once this coating wears off your screwed. There should be some kind of disclosure when purchasing a platinum ring that states this is an often reaction. After reading all these cases with exactly the same situation I can't believe platinum is even allowed to be used!!!

Melissa C
Simi Valley, California

I am a jeweler specializing in estate jewelry, who has suddenly begun to experience the same type of reaction to my own wedding band, a wide antique platinum and diamond band. My symptoms mirror those referenced here. I have worn my wedding band (90% Platinum, 10% Iridium, Rhodium plated) for MANY years without any problem until two weeks ago.

On my right hand I always wear a 14k gold ring, and on my wrists I wear (also constantly)an 18k watch and a very wide 14k cuff bracelet.

Clearly a nickel allergy doesn't come into play here.

When my ring finger healed I donned a similar design wide band 14k rose gold and diamond ring and experienced no problem. I then switched back to the platinum ring and within a matter of hours the severe allergic reaction was back.

The only thing we all may have in common is chemical additives to our water supply. Thoughts?

Cynthia G
- Stuart, Florida

Many of those who have posted here, myself included, report a physical anomaly which resembles a chemical burn.

The reports are literally all over the map. My instinctive reaction is to look for the single common denominator in disparate geographical locations.

My guess would be our water supply and a serious lack of proper monitoring needed to achieve the correct quantities of chemicals being added thereto.

Chlorine is a long time additive to our drinking water.

Fluorine as an additive is now a good bit more controversial, with a number of negative reports about the effects of fluoridated water finally surfacing.

Is there the potential of a chemical interaction between platinum and overly fluoridated water which, after hand washing, might remain trapped under a platinum ring, creating an acidic reaction, resulting in a chemical burn to the skin?

"The action of fluorine on platinum has been studied with special care. It is evident, in view of the corrosion of the positive platinum terminal of the electrolysis apparatus, that nascent fluorine rapidly attacks platinum at a temperature of - 23°. At 100°, however, fluorine gas appears to be without action on platinum"...."Its behavior with water is peculiar. With a small quantity of water a brownish-yellow solution is formed, which, however, in a very short time becomes warm and the fluoride decomposes ; platinic hydrate is precipitated, and free hydrofluoric acid remains in solution. If the quantity of water is greater, the solution may be preserved for some minutes without decomposition. If the liquid is boiled, it decomposes instantly."

Is any of this relative? Thoughts from any of you scientists out there?

Cynthia G
- Stuart, Florida

I have the same problem! oh wow. i can't believe so many people are having this reaction to the platinum bands. I wore my engagement ring for a year & 1/2 and my wedding band for 3 months and now i am breaking out in the rash. my skin is red and i have bumps like poison ivy. i keep taking my rings off and putting on lotion. but it won't go away.
it gets very itchy and dry to the point it feels painful

Karissa M
- Coventry, Rhode Island

As everyone else that visits the forum... WOW! I am so glad that I am not a circus freak with the allergy to the wedding ring! I get the dry flaky skin between my wedding ring finger and my middle finger and it turns bright red. There are times when I cannot decide which is worse the itchiness or the burning.

I took my 14k gold wedding ring/engagement combo off and put it on the same finger of my other hand. Back on my wedding ring finger I have placed my Grandmother's engagement ring.

I have NO problems with the rings like this! The rash/problem heals and things are great. As soon as I switch the rings back to their proper places... BAM! I have a rash with in 12 hours!

Has anyone else been able to wear the ring that bothers them on their other hand without having any problems?

Donna

Donna G
- Edgewater Park, New Jersey

OMG, I thought I was just crazy but googled the subject "rash on ring finger" and all of this information popped up. Thank goodness! I, too, have a platinum wedding band, engagement ring and just recently added an eternity ring to the set. I've also been wearing the wedding set for five years with no problem. The rash is exactly as everyone has described, red, itchy and with small blisters, almost like the rings burned my finger. I had to take the rings off for almost a month before the rash, turned dry, would peel and then finally went away. But within two days of putting my rings back on, it's back! I'm trying the peroxide/vinegar solution as I type this and have had my rings soaking overnight. I will have to wait until my finger is cleared up, but will post with the result later. Thanks to everyone who shared, now I don't feel like I'm a nut!

Susie G
- Birmingham, Alabama

I too am a member of this unfortunate club. For 25 years I wore gold with absolutely no problem and for the last 8 wore platinum and gold with no problem until recently. My ring finger symptoms are the same as most except I do not have the burning...yes to the itching, discolored ring on the top of my ring finger and sometimes the little clear bumps.

I have always cleaned my ring with jewelry cleaner and am very conscious about washing my hands. I never sleep in my jewelry and regularly take my rings in to have them checked and cleaned (overdue this year). I finally had to yield to removing my ring. It helped somewhat, but definitely requires more work.

I have been considering going to the doctor, but will try the antifungal and the vinegar/peroxide cleansing first.

It is good to know that this is not an isolated situation. I read the entire list of postings. Good information. Thank you!

Rita P
- Louisville, Kentucky

I have suffered from this rash terribly in the past 8-10 years...it has only gotten worse with time. I have just finished cleaning my platinum wedding bands with the vinegar/H2O2 solution..at least they are sparkling now and it did pull all the gunk out of the grooves on the underside of the ring...we'll have to wait and see if it helps prevent the return of the rash once I can clear it up. I just rubbed garlic on my fingers...ring, middle and little as they are all affected by this rash. I do also suffer from this rash more mildly on my right hand so I treated it with garlic and cleaned my other (mostly silver) rings with the magic solution as well. Since I moved here in 1996 with my husband and first child, I've had 3 more children so the references to the pregnancies and the rash are curious...I've also suffered several pregnancy losses in between the successes. Curiously, we live where we have well water and when I first noticed the rash it was late summer or early fall in drought conditions. I began to think the rash was due to the high concentration of minerals in the water due to the drought. Also, my first born (in a fall season) in this home had severe gastric issues and could not tolerate her formula prepared with our well water or the bottled water with vitamins and minerals added. I imagine there is some correlation between the mineral and metal content of the water more so than the platinum bands alone that contribute to the rash. Of course when I used to work in a lab and now at home with 4 kids my hands are constantly being washed and being exposed to soap, cleaners and water that all settle in under my rings. I also got little ball bearing like weights placed on the underside of my diamond band to keep it form rolling toward the underside of my hand. Potentially these are not platinum but may contain nickel...it was so long ago I don't think I cared about that at the time..the rash hadn't yet appeared. Soooo...one more remedy for all of you is Nexcare Skin Care dry skin crack repair polish...you brush it on the dry, cracked, itchy, blistery yucky skin and it seals it so it can heal from the inside. Keep reapplying it until your rash clears and then maybe use some on your finger regardless, just to keep it sealed from the water and the metals in your rings when you dare to wear them again. I have my wedding bands around my neck on a black cord right now...I hope to wear them again some day if all these remedies work. For now the garlic is making me want to cook something good for dinner...

Rose D
- Bluemont, Virginia

I had commented earlier and have since tried the vinegar/peroxide solution with no success. The rash came back just like before. I, then took the rings back to the store where they were purchased (a long-standing reputable jeweler here in town) and without hesitation the lady told me that what I had was a "soap-burn" caused by washing my hands frequently. She said it is caused by the lye in the soap and she sees it all the time. She said to make sure that my hands are dried completely before putting my rings back on and to take them off at night and when I'm at home. Also she said to clean the rings more frequently to remove the soap build-up. Does anyone have any thoughts on this conclusion?

Susie G
- Birmingham, Alabama

Thank you all for sharing. I'm not out of my mind - (or at least not with regard to my yucky finger). I too suffer from the wedding band allergy. I had never worn a ring on my wedding finger until I got engaged and then enjoyed a beautiful white gold engagement ring for nearly 2 years. While planning for the wedding band, we upgraded to a platinum engagement ring (which I wore for about 3-4 months with no infection) and then my platinum eternity band (also worn combined with the platinum engagement ring for another 3 months without incident). Then, out of nowhere, up pops these red oozy blisters that itch like crazy and make my finger swell. I will try the vinegar/peroxide solution tonight but have started to have some luck with a poison ivy anti-itch scrub followed by Aveeno's anti-itch concentrated lotion. Tried the cortisone which dried it but returned as soon as I replace the rings. I wish you all luck and will report back if I find a solution that works. Thank you all for sharing and to finishing.com for providing this great forum.

Michelle L
- Nashua, New Hampshire

I have the same problem! Only my "ring rash" is under a white gold and diamond ring. Wore it for 1 1/2 years with no problem...then one day - BAM!- horrible itchy rash. I take off the ring, the rash clears up. Put the ring back on, rash comes back.
But here is the weird thing - I waited for my rash to heal, then gooped on tons of triple antibiotic ointment under the ring. I was able to wear the ring for about a week and a half with no problems. I was so happy! Then tonight, I noticed that the ring looked a little dull so I took it off and scrubbed it with hand soap and a toothbrush. I rinsed it, dried it, and put it back on. Within FIVE MINUTES the rash was back!! I have put cortisone on the rash and did the vinegar/H2O2 boil to the ring - we will see if it helps and I will post again to update.
Thanks to all for posting their symptoms and remedies!

Amy S
- Redding, California

What a relief to read all these posts, but so frustrating that there is no 'magic answer.' I wore my platinum engagement ring and white gold wedding band for 5 yrs with no problems. Then, 4 months after my first son was born, itchy red bumps on the inside of my ring finger. When I took the rings off, it healed. Put them back on, rash came right back.

After a year or so of this on/off, I borrowed a band my mother wasn't using and had success wearing it - I assumed it was because her fingers are slightly larger. But now, 5 months after the birth of my second son, I am having the problem again. So I wonder about the hormonal link.

It seems clear to me from all the different advice posters have received from various doctors and jewelers, that no one really knows what this is and why it happens.

Meg J
- NYC, New York

This method WORKS!!! I was suffering from this mysterious "platinum ring rash" and it was so sad to not be able to wear my beautiful ring from Tiffany & Co. I knew the ring was of excellent quality. I'd tried to have it professionally cleaned, to no avail. THEN...I soaked it in 2 parts vinegar to ONE part hydrogen peroxide, and boiled it for 10 minutes. I've been able to wear it for weeks now with no rash reappearing. To be on the safe side, I do take it off at night, and I also thoroughly dry my hands (and ring) after washing.

Heidi C
- Washington, D.C.

This is mainly for Rose D who wrote in November 2007...I seriously think that most of this "rash" is caused by yeast infections. It happens much more often than people think. I have had this rash on both my fingers, experiencing most of what many people on this site did, and am finally getting rid of it. In the last week (it would be more effective if I wasn't eating so much sugar b/c of the holidays), I have started eating 2-3 cloves of garlic after each meal, and after 2 days, my fingers finally stopped itching. I mean, I tried Neo-Predef powder (usually used in animals for ringworm), cortisone cream, clortrimazole, and even alcohol scrubs to try to get rid of the itching and rash. I also started just dabbing some plain yogurt on my rash and that has seemed to help so much. I really suspect that I have a BAD candida problem (UTIs, endometriosis, I have the worst yeast infection that I have ever had right now that is going away, allergies, IBS, etc.,) and I am finally starting to feel better. Last month I had a miscarriage, and i feel that this has something to do with it. Also, DON'T DRINK YOUR WELL WATER. For that matter, don't bath in it either. When I used to live in Blacksburg, I would get these horrible rashes during rainy times...most likely more chemicals from the farms in the water. I didn't even let my dog drink it after a while because he would mysteriously get mast-cell tumors about 3 in a 9 month period. They stopped coming when I started filtering his water. It could be a coincidence, but you decide that. Also, you can get either a filter for your shower head, that can be used to fill up your bath or to shower in. And there are also home water distillers that you can buy (@400 bucks, but I think it is worth it). I hope your problems resolve, and please consider these recommendations. I am not that healthy, but I believe I have started to address my problems. Less sugar and more goal of 10 servings of vegetables a day is my goal. I am also thinking seriously of buying a juicer for the vegetable juice. Kind of gross tasting, but worth it too. P.S. Don't try eating fresh garlic on an empty stomach, unless you enjoy vomiting.

Irene M
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina

I called my jeweler and he told me to coat the underside of my ring w/ 2 applications of CLEAR NAIL POLISH. He said it is not an allergy but the time of year. Worth a try!

Bridgette Doe
- Chicago, Illinois

Thanks for confirming that I have a problem with my platinum ring and not my marriage! I started wearing my platinum ring on a regular basis after a job change. That is when I would develop painful, sometimes itchy, red bumps around wear I wore the ring. The swelling was great enough that I can not get the ring on the finger. I have no problem with silver ring I wear. I'll probably switch to all gold or silver wedding band. But as a guy, I have attachment to the marriage symbol of the ring and not the ring itself.

Kevin Knauss
- Granite Bay, California

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this awesome website. Here is my story. I have been wearing my platinum engagement ring with solitaire diamond for 4 years without any problems (no rash.) I had been wearing my platinum wedding band (w/channel set diamonds, so not a lot of metal)for 2 years and took a trip to South American one month after my 2nd wedding anniversary. I only brought my wedding band with me for safety reasons, and somewhere along my 2 week trip, I started to develop a red, itchy, flaky, weepy, blistery rash on the inner aspect of my ring finger (i.e., on the side closest to my middle finger, aka 3rd inter-digit space.) Since I wasn't home, I kept on wearing my wedding band, and the rash got worse, to the point where I could not really wear the band anymore because the itching and swelling was really killing me. When I came back home to the US, I tried Neosporin ointment on the finger, thinking that some strange bacteria or something got into my wedding band when I was in Argentina and created a local infection/cellulitis. Unfortunately, Neosporin did not help. I then decided that maybe what I had was a delayed contact dermatitis (which you can get even after wearing/using something for years) which wouldn't have been so shocking since I have a lot of allergies and asthma, etc. So then I tried a 1% hydrocortisone ointment, which helped for about one day, but then the redness reappeared. I thought maybe the hydrocortisone wasn't strong enough, so I started using a prescription strength steroid cream (Mometasone.) That did not help either, only caused more aggravation of the red, itchy rash. So I just gave it time and let it heal. It healed to about 90% and then I was so excited that I wanted to wear my rings again, only this time I decided it would be good to just try each ring individually to try and see if one was the culprit. To my surprise, I put my engagement band on (the one that I didn't have on when the rash began in South America) and I had it on for about 12 hours, then as soon as I took it off it was red, and the next morning again the weepy rash with blisters appeared. That is when I first found this website. After reading all the entries I decided that what happened was that something got into the wedding band in South America and that the dirt caused a local reaction on my finger. So I took the cleaning solution advice and cleaned both my engagement ring and my wedding band in 2:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar to hydrogen peroxide, soaked it for 15 minutes, then boiled it for about 10 minutes (cleaning it with a toothbrush the whole time.) My rings looked gorgeous and sparkly!!! Then I put my wedding band back on (after I thoroughly dried it) for only 2 hours, and the next day, the rash was back again. So I guess it wasn't dirty after all? I took my wedding band to the jeweler the very next day and had it dipped in rhodium (well, I thought I was re-dipping it, but it turns out that my ring was never even dipped in rhodium in the 1st place, it is 95% platinum, 5% alloy and the major component of the alloy turns out to be nickel.) I just got my wedding band back two days ago, and I am happy to report that I have been wearing it for two days and am rash-free. I should let you know though, that while my wedding band was getting dipped in rhodium (and then professionally cleaned afterwards), I was wearing my engagement band (same platinum/alloy percentage)without any problems (no rash!!) As you can see, I'm stumped by this. I guess something may have gotten in my wedding band after all and I just didn't clean it enough with the peroxide/vinegar solution OR my finger started having a reaction to the alloy (although highly unlikely as I have no problem wearing belts and belt buckles are almost always made of nickel) and the rhodium just covered up the alloy so my skin wasn't directly touching it.

In any case, I'm grateful to all of your postings because without them, I wouldn't have thought to clean it at home, dip it in rhodium, or have it professionally cleaned. I really don't know what happened, but now it seems to have dissipated. I'm going to post again in a few weeks with an update, but I hope this has helped!! If you are still stuck, then I recommend doing all of the above mentioned things, maybe one of them will work for you after all...

Also I forgot to mention this above, but I also tried antifungal creams and it cleared my finger up the very next day, but then when my finger was 95% better and after I had cleaned my wedding band with the solution, I still got the rash so I decided the antifungal cream probably didn't do a whole lot, it just got better on its own (by the way, I used Loprox, it's prescription antifungal cream.)I thought it was fungal because I also wash my hands a lot at work and my rings get wet, and I gained weight recently so I thought that was the perfect setup for a fungal infection, but oh well. And it is highly unlikely to have an allergy to platinum, it really is the most hypoallergenic metal out there.

Good luck to everyone!!!!

Kay K.
- NYC, New York

I too had the red, itching burning rash type thing on my ring finger and I have a white gold diamond engagement and wedding bands. I wore the engagement ring for almost 8 months with no problems and the wedding band for almost another year with no problems. Up until about 3 months ago I noticed the rash. It's super annoying and I thought I was allergic. I tried Cortisone, lotion and Neosporin and taking the ring off for weeks at a time but once it was put back on it aggravated it again and the rash would come right back.
I came upon this site about a week ago because I'm getting sick of not being able to wear my rings. I tried the peroxide/ vinegar boil mixture and so far no rash! in fact, my rash seems to still be healing even with the ring now back on....I dry my hands really really good and don't wear it to bed or in the shower...we'll see how it goes. but so far the vinegar/peroxide seems to be a great fix!

Katey Moser
- Ventura, California

This site saved my ring! I, too wore my ring for 8 months no problem and then would get a rash, let it heal, then get a rash again....even after professional cleaning and polishing. I tried the vinegar/peroxide mixture and then boiled and THEN from another site they suggested just soaking the ring in peroxide. So I did all three of those things and no more rash. I've been wearing it again for a few months now no taking it off!

K Kotreau
- Boston, Massachusetts

I had the red scaly itchy rash under my gold and diamond wedding band for several months. I scrubbed the ring with toothpaste and a toothbrush, jewelry cleaner...nothing worked. I tried the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide solution and have been rash free for months now. I highly recommend it!!

Janet Beiswenger
- Malvern, Pennsylvania

For those of you with an itchy rash under your rings: try boiling your ring (even if it has diamonds and/or is gold - it's ok, nothing will happen to it). I kept getting the same rash over and over, I'd take my ring off, the rash would clear up, put the ring back on, rash would come back. Never ending cycle, until I found another website with similar postings, and boiling was one of the suggestions. Well, I boiled my ring for 20 minutes, dried it completely, and I've been wearing it for over a month now with no rash, no itch, no problem. Seems there was probably bacteria or something caught up in the crevices of the ring that kept bringing the rash back. Boiling it killed everything. It really works - good luck to all!

Summer Olstad
- Hazlet, New Jersey

True Platinum Allergy? I wore my rings for 3 months, and then became pregnant. I was instructed by my doctor to take off the rings, because they were creating the same kind of rash mentioned elsewhere in these posts. I ended up having another baby 5 months after the first was born, so no rings wearing from 2004-2006. After her birth I couldn't wait to put the rings on. After 5 months I ended up with the same rash, and I ended up getting them resized, because maybe they were too tight? Nope same reaction.

Then the rash wasn't just on my finger, but the rash continued up my hand, wrist and upper arm in red bubble-like bumps that itched. So I finally went to the doctor, and he obviously said I had a platinum allergy. So I went on to the jewelry maker to take care of the problem (after-all, I had only really worn my rings for a little over 3 months!), they had a problem with the time owned, but they decided to test the medal anyway. 100% pure platinum. Then they cleaned the rings with boiling temps, and I still retained a rash.

So far I haven't gone back. But right now I'm just let down. I'm thinking of redoing my two rings into one white gold ring (so far (I think) no allergies), but I know its going to cost a lot. Has anyone else done anything so extreme? I know FOR sure to try at least a month the metal to make sure I can wear it. But on the side- NO person in ANY jewelry store believes that I am TRULY allergic to platinum! No other cases have ever been reported. Is it the water? Weather? Or self? Any help from my letter would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Erin

Erin Fortin
student - Boca Raton, Florida

I too have had all of the problems listed above...and thought I was the only one too! Had worn my platinum rings for 6 years with no problem then suddenly kept getting the rash. I am HAPPY to report that I tried the solution listed above, and boiled the ring for 20 minutes (which was kind of scary..) and the rash is not coming back!! I am SOO happy to be wearing my rings again...I have missed them! Everyone who is having this problem should give this a try before other expensive treatments!

Angela Dietz
- Savannah, Georgia

Wow, am I ever glad to have found this site. I was beginning to believe I was some sort of freak of nature!!! I had a rash one other time but it went away with Cortisone and didn't return. I just assumed I had some chemicals from cleaning trapped underneath or something. Now nearly 3 years after that one and only occurrence, I have been battling a rash (complete now with scales and cracking...ew) for nearly 2 months. I am completely at a loss!!! I am soaking my rings in the previously mentioned solution...wish me luck. My wedding ring means the world to me.

Amanda Janik
- Mukwonago, Wisconsin

Just found this post, and ill say what every one else says when they find it... Thank goodness its not just me! I've had issues with my Platinum rings for 7 years. The worse was while I was pregnant. I wore them on a chain around my neck because it was so bad. And I seem to flair up around my cycle a few times a year. I have always assumed I had some sort of hormonal imbalance induced allergic reaction to the platinum. Mine comes and goes and is never as bad as it was while I was pregnant. Except now! I will try some of the things posted... garlic and cleaning of the rings also. I was thinking of getting my rings coated as well. Ill keep you posted on my findings.

Heather ONeill
- Roswell, Georgia

I have been dealing with this rash for 2 1/2 years. It started 6 months after getting my white gold engagement ring. I would take it in to get professionally cleaned and polished. The rash would go away for about 3 months. Now, this technique does not work. The rash is on the palm side of my ring finger, flaky, dry, itchy, burning - IT HURTS!- I have tried clear nail polish, doesn't work. I recently received white gold diamond earrings - I don't know if the exposure to nickel in my earrings is contributing to my finger not healing???

I am going to get the plastic covers for earring posts and soak my ring in the 2:1 vinegar peroxide solution and see if this works. Of course, I have to wait for my finger to heal. I had contemplated upgrading to a platinum ring - but after seeing these posts - I will hold off. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Tiffany Williamson
- Humble, Texas

I'm so happy to see I'm not alone or crazy! I am also having the same problem. I have a 14k white gold wedding ring I have been wearing for 2 years. Last week I noticed under my ring a dry red rash. A co-worker of mine said that happened to her as well and she thought it was possibly from soap getting stuck under it. After reading these posts I'm wondering if I'm due for a rhodium dip. I haven't had one for a year. I will try that and see if it works. Thanks to all who posted.

Beth Sahadi
- Willoughby, Ohio

The intent of this post is twofold: The first is to relay educational information regarding Platinum Myths that addresses why a metal as pure as Platinum can, in fact, trigger allergies despite marketing claims to the contrary. The second part of this message contains a rash treatment approach that has yet to be offered in the discussion thus far. This troubleshooting approach should be of interest to those who want to figure out if they are having a metal allergy vs. a rash triggered by a skin infection.



PLATINUM MYTHS: A Q&A with Jewelry Expert Dave West:

Summary: Jewelry owners and prospective buyers should note that Platinum and the disclosure the alloys it contains are not closely regulated in the US. Platinum is like pure gold in the sense that in its purest state it is too soft for jewelry. To increase its suitability for jewelry it must be mixed with other metals. Without regulation, consumers not have a means to determine what those metals are -- and the local jewelry store owner may not know either. For this and other info., please read:

http://www.askdavewestthejewelryexpert.com/2007/10/platinum-myths.html


TROUBLESHOOTING RASHES:

Although sanitizing rings is always a good idea -- if only because they look better when they aren't caked with soap and lotion residues -- those who are currently experiencing a rash should consider a step not previously mentioned:

1. Remove the ring(s).
2. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Benadryl or Zyrtec. An hour after taking the antihistamine apply a small amount of topical Benadryl lotion to the rash. If this combination causes the rash to itch less and the redness to dissipate over the course of the next few hours, it is likely that the skin reaction is a histamine reaction (allergy).

If the use of antihistamines enables the rash to diminish or disappear in less time than it might otherwise, this confirms that an allergy has caused the rash. Why? Because a bacterial or fungal infection will NOT diminish in response to an antihistamine. Conversely, a rash triggered by an allergic reaction will in no way respond to the antibiotic ointments or antifungal creams mentioned in previous posts.

Once a metal allergy is confirmed, you have two choices:

1. Get your white gold or platinum rings rhodium plated at your local jewelry store and re-dip them every year whether you think you need it or not. (Some people may find it necessary to do this as often as every 6 months due to lifestyle and/or skin chemistry wearing down the rhodium plating at faster rates than others.)
2. Stop wearing the rings and consider upgrading your wedding ring and/or setting. (Try Titanium, surgical steel or high-karat yellow gold, for example. Note that Palladium may not eliminate rashes for those who are allergic to Platinum because it belongs from the same family of metals.)


BOTTOM LINE

Unfortunately, allergies are serious business. Once you have them they tend to get worse the more one is exposed. In effect, an allergy is an immune response your body creates to preserve itself from a perceived threat. Allergies are a manifestation of an immune system that has incorrectly identified something harmless -- like the metal in your rings -- as something serious like an infectious invader. The redness, itching and irritation is the result of the body's attempt to expel out the invader. Once the body learns to identify a substance as a threat, it almost never forgets. The word medical types use to refer to the immune system's ability to remember its foe is "antibody". Antibodies are exactly what they seem: ANTI bodies -- biological war machines to preserve and defend your health. Because of the interaction of one's genes in combination with a constant bombardment of man-made drugs and chemicals, not to mention the perfectly natural byproducts of animals and plant pollens stemming from flora and fauna found all over the world world -- often grown in just a few square miles in suburbia and often in concert with thousands of substances in our food and water -- in some individuals the immune system becomes hair-trigger sensitive. To one person this abnormal immune system response may arise in response to a food. To another a pet allergy. To another an "adverse drug reaction". And to some a jewelry allergy. Few of the substances our immune system wades through on a 24/7 basis have been tested in the real world. Pesticides, cleaners, medications -- they are studied, most often, in the relative isolation of a sterile lab -- which in no way predicts what will happen when they collide with millions of other substances, both natural and unnatural, in our environment and bodies. This is, incidentally, one reason why the epidemic of asthma, particularly among children, has skyrocketed over the past 50 years. Whatever manifestation such an allergy takes -- a rash on the finger, an asthma attack, itchy eyes or a stuffy nose -- the only solution is AVOIDANCE. Total and complete avoidance to whatever extent it is realistic to do so.

Of course, it can't hurt to keep one's jewelry as clean as possible in the unlikely event that the trouble really is bacterial or fungal in nature. To preclude that possibility, practical steps may be of use: Wash your hands with hot soapy water -- before and after eating, after arriving home, and after spending time in the kitchen, garden or bathroom. (And would you believe it -- computer keyboards have been found to contain more germs than some public restroom toilet seats!) Besides sanitation, clean jewelry sparkles more and looks much newer. Better yet, keeping your jewelry clean doesn't have to be time consuming. Simply keep an acid-free and ammonia-free jewelry cleaner in your bathroom and while you bathe, soak your jewelry in the cleaner. After you towel off, plug the sink and rinse the jewelry you have soaked with warm water. Pat dry or use a hair dryer -- they're great for getting jewelry to dry quickly without water spots.

I hope this info. helps!

Diana Lynn
- Whittier, California

I just wanted to follow up with everyone. It has now been 3 months since I boiled my rings (for 20 minutes, hanging them from a chain so that they don't touch the metal of the pot). Still rash free and able to wear my rings every day without a problem. Before doing anything else, I strongly urge you to give boiling a try. Not only is it free, but your rings come out extra sparkly after. Getting the rings dipped in rhodium might work, but it gets costly after a while, b/c once the rhodium wears away, you're left with whatever bacteria was trapped under there in the first place and you'll have to go back and get them re-dipped. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

Summer Olstad
- Hazlet, New Jersey

Thank you very much to the manager of this website and to those who took the time to post. I was beside myself when I got an itchy, bumpy red rash on the top side of my left ring finger. I had worn a platinum engagement ring with a three-stone setting for a little under two years, and a platinum channel-set diamond wedding band for about 9 months. When I transferred my rings to the other hand, the rash followed them.

After finding this website, I cleaned my rings with the hydrogen peroxide solution discussed in previous posts. I also boiled my rings, which scared me to death, but they turned out fine. My rash disappeared.

Since then I have not worn my rings to bed or in the shower, but I still wear them when I wash my hands. I clean them once a week. I got nervous about using the hydrogen peroxide long-term, and instead use a jeweler-approved and Heloise-endorsed mixture of 1/2 water, 1/2 ammonia. I soak the rings for 15 minutes and then brush them (especially the holes underneath the channel-setting!) before rinsing with water and drying them.
It has been over a month and I have had no more problems! Thank you thank you thank you!

Heather Langdon
- Aston, Pennsylvania

I posted a month ago about my sudden and recurring rash and am extremely pleased to report that after the hydrogen peroxide/vinegar mixture and boiling my rings, I've yet to have another outbreak! This is very exciting because before, when I'd let my rash clear up (several days), I'd put my ring back on and the rash would be back in an hour. I am so very happy to have found this site! To anyone wondering where to start with this problem, try this very cheap trick, it did wonders for me!!!

Amanda Janik
- Mukwonago, Wisconsin

One thing that I am noticing as a common thread is the particular area that is breaking out. Several listings showed that the rash is on the top of the ring finger and only the side nearest the middle finger. I have that exact pattern of the rash from my ring. My ring is 14K yellow gold. Does anyone have any idea why this could possibly be a common factor?

Julie Votipka
- Holt, Missouri

Yep- another victim of platinum ring-rash here... and I was just starting to think I was allergic to being married! I'm currently sitting here looking at my scaly ring finger, missing my ring- it was expensive and I hate not wearing it! After a Google search on platinum and skin rashes, here I am...

I have had my platinum ring for 4 years now and never a problem until the past year or so... I have had about 3 episodes of the itchy, painful red bumps/blisters and flaky skin. It resolved each time after taking the ring off for a few weeks, and of course the rash returns after a day or two of wearing the ring again. Cortisone seemed to help initially, but it's only over-the-counter stuff. Antihistamines don't seem to make a difference- hopefully it's not an allergic reaction with histamine release. I've never had a problem with Non-hypoallergenic earrings/watches/rings

3 factors mentioned in the above posts make me wonder...

1. It's channel set with lots of little holes on the underside of the ring- bacteria and fungus could be up in there. I use a Sharper-Image ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and also regularly scrub it out with a toothbrush and platinum approved jewelry cleaner. Apparently this isn't good enough? Maybe I'll just try the vinegar/peroxide boiling method and see if that helps.

2. I have a 14 month old son, I can't remember exactly when my ring rash started in relation to my pregnancy- I want to say it started about that time... the hormones of pregnancy have been blamed for lots of things, maybe metal sensitivity can be added to the list.

2. I wash my hands many, many, many times a day at work (at a hospital) with anti-bacterial soaps and Purell-type alcohol based hand gels- I thought those were the culprits (an allergy to Purell?). The increased incidence of Triclosan-containing products has grown EXPONENTIALLY and I wonder if sensitivity to these products is an issue as well. Maybe Triclosan and similar chemicals react with metal and release some metal salts or something.

I hope to get this cleared up (both the questions and the rash)- but in the meantime, someone above mentioned Titanium rings- anyone have any experience with these? They look nice and are relatively inexpensive for plain bands- I just hate to give up my platinum, but if the rash persists, I may check into a Titanium substitute ring.

Cathy Brummel
- Lafayette, Colorado

I am experiencing the same rash on my ring finger with 14kt. white gold. I have taken the rings off only to have a red blistery rash return. I will try the vinegar and peroxide before contacting a dermatologist. thanks

maureen lizza
- forty fort, Pennsylvania

I also tried the vinegar, hydrogen peroxide boiling of my rings and the problem has gone away. Thanks so much to all of you who took the time to post these solutions. I have been wearing my wedding ring for 20 years next month and couldn't imagine what I would do if I couldn't keep wearing them. Good luck to all of you!

Julie Votipka
- Holt, Missouri

Wow, I'm surprised to hear so many people with the same problem! My rash started flaring up in 2005. I thought it was because my company moved to a new building and the soap dispensers were very old and dirty, so I just chalked it up to a lot of the liquid soap getting under my rings. However, I STILL break out even when I do NOT wear my rings! The only time I've worn them is when we go away on vacation. I take some prescribed cream and for some reason it doesn't bother me as much. But when we're back home, forget about it! I'll try some of these suggestions, I hope they're the solutions to this problem.

Angela Davis
- New York, New York

My husband has been wearing his platinum wedding ring since 2001. Only about this year ('08) the palm of his hand started peeling. Now it's moving to the outer part of his hand. Has anyone out there has this problem?

Petula C
- Morganville, New Jersey

Hi, Petula. Obviously his doctor or dermatologist would have to evaluate what is going on, but why would you suspect his ring to be the cause of this problem, fairly well removed from where the ring contacts his skin?

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

I am so glad I found this site. Like most others I developed a nasty,red, inflamed rash from my platinum wedding ring. I had it cleaned in a jewelers but the rash returned instantly. I removed my ring until the rash cleared completely and took it off every time i wet/washed my hands also but to no avail. I decided to try the vinegar/peroxide solution a week ago and it worked wonders and I have been wearing my ring with no irritation! I have a princess cut diamond on my ring and I could see some dirt behind the stone which was removed with the solution which may be the answer. It is also shining like new!!

Emma Shanks
- Scotland, U.K.

After wearing my wedding rings for about a year which are platinum, I developed a rash. Red blistery burning rash. I took the rings off for a while and the rash went away. I put the rings on my white gold chain around my neck and two weeks later I had a rash on my neck. Now I have 15,000.00 worth of rings that I can't wear. I guess I'm going to replace the rings with a white gold set.

C Morales
- Clewiston, Florida

I found this site while researching my rash, and I can definitely say it is caused by Triclosan.....

Yesterday at work, I went to the bathroom, then proceeded to wash my hands. From there I went to the vending machine and then back to work. Within 5 minutes of washing my hands, my finger was burning. I took my ring off and I have a red rash/burn where the ring was.

I have seen this in the past, but not nearly as bad, and I know that one of my bathrooms at home has hand soap with Triclosan. However, my guess is that the cleaning company at work has recently switched and is using a very generic hand soap with excessive amounts of Triclosan.


Mark

Mark Johnson
- Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hi, Just wanted to let you all know that the vinegar / hydrogen peroxide solution really does work!!! I was really upset after 3 years of wearing my platinum wedding and engagement rings that I developed the red rash. I soaked my rings in the solution overnight and it started clearing up straight away. I soaked them again over night on the second night and its nearly now gone altogether! I really recommend you try this remedy!

Nicky Leamy
- Warwick, England

The vinegar/peroxide solution worked for me too. After six years of constantly wearing my platinum wedding band with no issues, I ended up with a rash on my ring finger underneath the band. It looked like dry, flaky skin.

I boiled 2:1 white vinegar & hydrogen peroxide, "boiled" (literally, and apprehensively) my ring in the solution for about 10 minutes, and then soaked my ring for about an hour. I kept the ring off for a few days until the rash cleared up. It's been about a month, and the rash hasn't come back. I'm guessing there was some kind of irritant stuck in the diamond channels on the inside of the band that the solution was able to eliminate. I had previously tried standard jewelry cleaner, which didn't work (rash kept coming back). Can't tell you how relieved I was that this worked!

Hope this helps, good luck.

Stephanie Foran
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Help! I wanted to disinfect my sterling silver jewelry, so I soaked it overnight in the white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide mixture. Now all of it is black and tarnished looking with a really rough texture to the metal. Have I completely ruined my silver??? Please respond so I can know what to do. Thanks in advance.

Donna Bryant
- Mobile, Alabama

Hi, Donna. Have you tried a silver cleaning cloth?

Regards,

Ted Mooney finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

This may be a silly question...But, do you boil the rings in the peroxide/vinegar solution or just soak them in the solution and boil in water? And at the risk of sounding really silly, do you just put the rings in the bottom of the pot while boiling or should you suspend them in the boil? I am nervous about the boiling, but I am desperate to heal this rash and wear my rings again.

Lora Naron
- Texarkana, Arkansas

I am also glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem! I have a 14K white gold wedding set, and wore the engagement ring for 2 years without any problem. Just a few months ago, the skin under my ring finger became bumpy, itchy, and eventually painful. I suspected that I developed eczema on my ring finger, but didn't know for sure.

I will try the vinegar/hydrogen peroxide solution and boiling, and hopefully that will solve it.

I'm wondering if the common thread to this problem is rings with many grooves underneath where bacteria can thrive (eternity bands, diamonds set with channeling, etc.) Anyone have issues with solid gold bands w/diamond solitaires?

Carol Cho
- Boston, Massachusetts

Boiling in regular water works for me. I get this rash every couple of months no matter how well I dry my hands or clean my ring. Just 10-15 minutes in boiling water is all it takes.

Lori Griffith
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Wow, I'm so glad to find this thread. I just had the exact same issue, a red, itchy blister/welt thing under my platinum ring. After it came back for the third time (apparently, I'm a slow learner), I finally started googling and found this page.

My welt is also on my ring finger, on the side closest to the middle finger. Right now it's in the peeling stage, once it's healed I'm going to try the vinegar/peroxide cure and hope it works.

I wonder if everyone here has similar rings? My ring has a low setting, so are more nooks and crannies for bacteria/soap buildup than a plan wedding band.

Elaine Chang
- Washington DC

I have been married for 2 years and have not had any problems with my platinum wedding band or engagement rings until recently. I thought it was the new soap in my office bathroom, so I brought my own. That doesn't seem to work. Once I take off my rings and let my "ring" finger heal, the rash just comes back. The rash is on the outside of my ring finger (next to my pinky finger). The rash is red and bumpy. I use hydrocortizone cream but all it does is dry the rash. Once the rash is dry, it peels. This has been going on for several months now...

I'm going to try the hydrogen peroxide/vinegar and boiling solution, but I don't want to boil my rings in the pot. How do you boil the rings? Do you suspend them or just allow them to lie on the bottom of the pot?

By the way, I live abroad in Okinawa, Japan so I'm not sure if it's related to the water. We've been here for a year and the rash only started about 6 months ago.

chrissy bean
- Okinawa, Japan

I'm like the rest of you...so glad I'm not alone!

I was starting to think it was an omen... or that my fingers got fat. same rash, same blisters, it comes and goes at will, but almost within 24 hrs. of putting it back on. I have that to keep it at bay I leave my beautiful eternity band off for showers, sleeping, working out, swimming, cooking and time for it to heal when I forget to take it off.. oh yeah, washing my hands too. That seems ridiculous to me for something that is supposed to be the best to be causing so much trouble that I barely get to wear it and when I do I don't show it off because its embarrassing to have the irritation stand out around the edges, not to mention how miserable it feels.

I am for sure going to boil the heck out of them this evening and soak them.

I've only had the ring since March and got married in June... grrr silly rash ever since I started wearing it. Luckily it cleared up in time for the wedding but was back at it again on the honeymoon. What a pain!

Thanks for all the support!

Crystal Matthis
- Gardner, Kansas

This forum is fabulous! Gotta love the internet!

After reading so many posts from all of you I am deducing that there isn't one solution that is right for everyone. Some peoples' rashes are red, swollen and itchy....others are red, scaly and dry. My rash is the latter (red, scaly, dry). I had to take off my wedding ring for over a week in order to let the rash heal...only to have it come back after a few days of wearing the ring.

One person's post spoke volumes to my situation.....can't recall the poster's name but they were on page one. Anyway, she had come back from a visit with her dermatologist and found out her "rash" was actually a type of eczema. Her dermatologist prescribed a generic version of Elocon to clear it up. Well, reading that post was like a light going off for me because I actually have a couple of tiny patches of eczema on my scalp, for which my Dr. prescribes me Elocon!! I am CERTAIN this is my problem because the red, scaly and dry rash is ONLY on the top of my finger (not the palm side) and it's identical to the eczema rash I get on my scalp. I'm talking IDENTICAL.

Elocon is a miracle worker for Eczema so I'm on my way to my medicine cabinet to rub some on my finger. I wanted to mention to those of you who have the red, scaly, dry rash....it could VERY well be eczema (eczema affects many, many people). If you don't want to bother with a Dr. and prescription for Elocon you might give something else a try.....

When my son was born he was diagnosed with eczema and so I searched for the best and safest product I could use on him to help clear it up. I happened upon a demonstration at a local fair for a product called Hawaiian Moon Aloe. It's basically the strongest form of aloe vera you can find...but it's got several other effective ingredients in it as well. Anyway, I bought it and it cleared his eczema up within 24 hours of my first use!!!!! It's a safe, non-medicinal way to help treat eczema and I highly recommend it to those of you with the same ring rash that I have. It has cleared the rash up for me in the past.....I just didn't know how or why my rash kept coming back. Now I do!

http://www.aloecream.biz/default.htm

Good luck to everyone.

Mary P.
- Rocklin, California

I am sooo happy to have found this post. I also had the tiny blister rash where my engagement ring sat. It would go away when I stopped wearing the ring and came back when I put it on.I was so sad to contemplate having to replace it (the ring not the fiance). I didn't think it was due to an allergy to the platinum because my rash doesn't go all the way around my finger which happens when I wear a bracelet or necklace that I am allergic to. It was isolated at the very top where there is open filigree work surrounding the diamond. I used the vinegar and peroxide method and boiled it to death for 30 minutes (don't worry-the 100 deg C boiling water is nothing compared to the temperatures required to melt these metals and diamonds are not the strongest minerals for nothing). I just used tongs to fish them out and let it cool before I touched it. Then I had to boil it again because I forgot and used an old toothbrush to clean it and I didn't know how clean the toothbrush was so I boiled the ring and the toothbrush for 30 minutes and then used the boiled toothbrush to clean the ring. I didn't wait for the rash to disappear but put the ring back on but the rash is still going away! I have also not changed my hand washing habits or dried my hands any better than I used to but the rash is almost completely gone just 2 days after I used this method to clean the ring. So try this first before you use a more expensive method!

Christina Lu
- Los Angeles, California

I too am so relieved to have found this site! I first developed my rash during my pregnancy with my first child (last year) and thought that it was just to do with my pregnancy hormones and that it would return to normal after I had my child. My son is now 9 months and my rash is worse than ever! I don't wear my rings (both platinum) and it really depresses me. I would love to wear them again so I am prepared to try the peroxide/vinegar solution. Sorry but could someone explain the exact quantities of each and where to buy hydrogen peroxide.

Please help!

Thanks, Katie

Katie Gibson
- Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland

OK, an update... about 3 weeks ago I boiled the heck out of my wedding ring, platinum eternity band( suspended on a wire so it didn't lay on the metal surface)and then soaked it overnight in peroxide/vinegar. In the Morning I scrubbed the inside of the ring with a toothbrush... my ring hasn't sparkled like that since I got it! I reluctantly began wearing it right after and to my surprise my skin actually continued to heal up while wearing the ring..the swelling went down in a day or so, and although it took at least a week to completely heal, my finger is perfect now and I wear my ring all the time unless I'm cooking with meat since I'm pretty sure that is where the bacteria came from.

Hope that helps the others suffering from the like.
Have an Awesome Day!

crystal matthis
- gardner, Kansas

Triclosan is in the hand soap that we have been using forever at the office, maybe at home too! I will check that tonight. I have been having problems with my rings since July. This is the second time that I have had to treat my rings. I am going to try using regular soap instead of an antibacterial type to see if this makes a difference. We will keep trying until this is resolved. Good luck.

Julie Votipka
- Holt, Missouri

Just thought I'd offer hope to those of you out there with this horrible rash. I developed the same thing out of the blue, for no apparent reason, after 16 months of being married and wearing my wedding ring and after four years of wearing my engagement ring. Both rings are platinum and neither had ever caused me a problem before, but my finger had got so sore, blistered, flaky and swollen that I couldn't wear them at all.
I read on this forum about the boiling idea, so I bought a bottle of hydrogen peroxide from Boots, and cheap white vinegar from the supermarket, boiled both rings in 2 parts vinegar to 1 part peroxide, and then left the rings to soak in the solution overnight. It really makes the kitchen stink, and it was super-scary putting my precious rings in such a toxic-smelling solution! Billions of bubbles came pouring off the rings' surface and between the diamonds, and I was really worried the diamonds might come loose. But the rings came out perfect - extremely sparkly and clean.
The rash had started to subside a little because I hadn't been wearing my rings for a few days, so the next day I tried them back on my finger again - and it was fine. They didn't inflame the rash at all, and the rash continued to get better so that within a couple of days it was completely gone. It's about six weeks later now and my finger is still fine, no rash whatsoever.
I have no idea what scientific explanation there could possibly be for this hydrogen peroxide / vinegar thing working, but it definitely does, and it did my platinum and diamond rings no harm at all. Hope this helps. x

Sarah Smith
- Sheffield, UK

My husband and I have been married for 26 years, about 2 months ago he had a rash under his ring. He put it on the right hand and the same thing happened. Why after all of those years did it suddenly happen?

Martha Green
homemaker - Beckley, West Virginia

Hi, Martha. To be clear, this is a platinum ring, not white gold, so there is no chance it is an acquired nickel allergy? Then it may be some sort of bacteria or fungus where the cleaning method described here may help. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

I've been reading that many people have a rash as a reaction to platinum jewelry.
I've been wearing a platinum eternity band for about 6 months, on my right hand ring finger, and started having unusual pain in the joint above and below the ring. Also, that one finger swells until the ring is really tight. It didn't even dawn on me that it could be the ring until I didn't put it on one day. The finger didn't swell or I didn't have pain in the finger. Am I imagining things?? Has anybody ever experienced anything like this??

Debbie Dixon
reader - Newberry, Florida

I have a platinum wedding & engagement ring. I started to get a rash the first few weeks I got it. Someone told me right away that it's because I was not drying my hands enough. Water was getting under my ring and staying there and causing a rash. I started to be sure I dried under my ring really well after that and it went away. After over 2 years I'm starting to get it again and know it's the same problem.

Melissa Castellanos
- Napa, California

I purchased a platinum ring of eBay from California, When I received it, I opened the package and tried it on for about 10 seconds. I then put it away. Roughly 12 hours later when I woke up the next morning I had a poison-ivy like rash right on the tip of my finger right where the ring rested and a few itchy blisters right above that where the ring slid across my finger. It is now the second day and the rash is about the same, maybe just a little better. After reading the posts I decided to boil the ring in the peroxide / vinegar solution and try the ring on my other hand to see if that helps. Unlike most of the other posts, my rash was very quick. I should mention that I did get one piercing over a year ago and have since removed it. If I do have an allergy to nickel or to platinum I can't believe that my reaction could be so quick. Prior to this I wore a gold ring with diamonds for 15 years with no rash other than the occasional dry spot, then another plain gold ring for a year. I was actuary thinking there was something else on the ring that I may have had a reaction to. Could there be something in the manufacturing process that I could be allergic to that maybe wasn't cleaned off the ring. It is Brand new. On a side note I do get poison Ivy very easily, although never in December before. and i was not doing any yard work for weeks prior to this.

Dan Tomlinson
- Horsham, Pennsylvania

I am so glad I have found this site.
I got 2 new rings 6 months ago which I wear on the same finger, one platinum and one white gold. Within a few weeks I developed the same red itchy rash as everyone else but under the white gold ring only (which is an eternity style). I went back to the jeweler who thought I was allergic to white gold & suggested I upgrade the ring to platinum even though I can wear 9 ct & 18 ct gold & silver rings with no problems at all. I did this thinking this was the end to the problem but unfortunately the rash has persisted & still much worse under the eternity style platinum ring.
I am beginning to think that it is the style of the ring with all the little holes on the underside which is trapping bacteria & causing the problem.
I also find that my rash gets much worse when my hands are hot.
I have tried steroid cream which clears it up but the rash comes back after a day or two of wearing my rings.
This morning I VERY NERVOUSLY boiled them in the Hydrogen peroxide/vinegar solution & they are now back in their box waiting for my rash to heal so that I can try them on again.
I will let everyone know how I get on but I am so grateful to have found some options to try as I was starting to despair of ever being able to wear them again.

Liz Arnott
- Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

So crazy!! I have been married for seven years (I thought maybe it was the 7 year itch! haha) and my finger started itching, breaking out, all of the other issues posted above. I mentioned to a friend of mine and she said look it up on the internet that it is a really common problem. So I did and here was all the information I needed!! I am going to the kitchen right now to do the boiling trick.....

Heather Miller
- Phoenix, Arizona

-see post dated dec 27th
Well it has now been a week and my rings haven't been off my finger! I can't believe it, I've cleaned, with both cleaning gloves on & off, swam & showered & not a mark on my finger. The HYDROGEN PEROXIDE/VINEGAR solution has definitely worked!
I'm thrilled to bits!

Liz Arnott
- Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Okay, this is my fourth post on this site for this subject. I have now been using only hand soap with no Triclosan and that has completely stopped the rash that I was having. I don't need to boil my rings anymore. I urge you to look into how many products that you use that have Triclosan in them and stop using them. See if this helps. I did some research on how Triclosan works. When you wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap it leaves a protective layer covering the skin. Take a minute and look at the Wikipedia site and search Triclosan. Hopefully this helps someone else with this problem.

Julie Votipka
- Holt, Missouri

I also have ring rash after wearing it for several years. I am a waitress and cosmetologist. my hands are always wet. I agree that this is due to having a wet warm breeding ground on my finger I am boiling my platinum ring in the solution right in the pot, and am going to practice better ring wearing habits... looks like i am not alone. Thanks

Siobhan Eileen Kinnaird
- Sandpoint Idaho

I have read with great interest the man stories of people seemingly suffering the same symptoms as I have endure for almost two years. My rash (persistently dry flaky skin) appears on the back of my ring finger and little finger. Palm side is normal. I suspected it may have had something do with the wedding ring and I've not worn it for several months now. Symptoms persist however. Doctors I've seen haven't had much of a clue. Maybe it's marital stress.

Ken Wilson
- Townsville, Queensland, Australia

I have been married 1 yr and have worn my ring all the time recently I have had a rash on my finger that went away after not wearing the ring then was back as soon as I put the ring back on. I am glad I have found this site I am relieved to know that I am not the only one. I have read all suggestions and will go with the vinegar solution. I will let you all know how it goes. Thank you so very much.

Angela Espinoza
- Venture, California

I laughed at the vinegar idea because it reminded me of My Greek Wedding where windex is the cure for everything! But I am doing it as we speak. I wanted to add that chap stick gives immediate relief to the rash and seems to speed the healing process. Every time I tried putting it back on, it came back, though, so I am working on the vinegar method...thank you People for this solution!

Nancy Watson
- Santa Maria, California

so I've worn my wedding ring for six months now. when i was wearing it as an engagement ring it didn't do anything. for about 2 months every time i wear my set i get a red rash, and bumps that look like poison ivy. i do work at a restaurant where i wash my hands frequently but i do dry my hands very well. i can wear my ring on my other hand and it does nothing.

sara mackenzie
- Philadelphia, Mississippi

I used to work for a very high-end jewelry store and would gently remind clients that as with anything worn/used daily: jewelry should be properly cleaned regularly. And, based upon my personal experience with dry/flaky skin irritation under my platinum ring and stud earrings: apparently occasional sanitizing is a good idea, too.

With regards to the toothbrush and boiling liquid suggestions: for general cleaning of my hard stones (pave diamonds, sapphires, and rubies), a sudsy jewelry cleaner + soft toothbrush work great, but don't try this directly on soft/porous gems such as emeralds, tanzanite, or pearls as you'll likely ruin them. Also, be careful of dropping any jewelry with gems into boiling water as this may cause a stone to break from the sudden change in heat (even diamonds).

My own skin irritation cleared up once I started leaving these items in a small bowl of rubbing alcohol overnight once a week or so. Good luck to each of you and thanks for the very helpful advice/insight!

Amy McNeil
- San Francisco, California

I am having a problem with my wedding rings which is driving me crazy. I have had my wedding band and engagement rings for four years and never had any problem. My wedding band is 10k white gold and my engagement ring is 14k white gold. They are made by two different jewelers. Also I have had a nickel allergy in my ears since I was a child but never had any reaction anywhere else on my body to any other jewelry.
Over the last few months I have developed a nasty rash underneath where my rings are on my finger. My finger swells up and becomes itchy, scaly and flaky. I had both of my rings cleaned professionally and that still did not help so I went to my doctor. My doctor said he thought it was an allergy to the rings and gave me a prescription steroid cream. He said for me to let it heal completely and then try one ring at a time. I let my finger heal completely and had my rings cleaned again. I tried only wearing my engagement ring because of the higher gold content and the smaller band. After about 10 days my finger swelled up again. I once again took my ring off and used the steroid cream until the rash cleared up and started wearing my engagement ring on the other hand. After 10 days or so nothing had happened to my right hand.
I decided to see a dermatologist. The dermatologist said he thought it was not the rings but something on the rings which was irritating my finger. He felt that if it was a genuine allergy it would irritate both hands and anywhere else the rings were placed. He gave me a nickel testing kit for my jewelry and sent me on my way. I tested my rings with the kit and they came up negative for nickel, which surprised me since I thought most white gold contained nickel. I put my rings back on and my left ring finger has once again flared up. I am at somewhat of a loss at what to do now. My rings have been cleaned repeatedly to make sure there is nothing on them. I take them off when I exercise, do any cleaning, wash my hands, put on lotion, shower or anything like that. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

Emily Yanez
jewelry owner - Shreveport, Louisiana

Hi, Emily. I would try the vinegar and peroxide cleaning that reportedly has been so successful for so many.

Regards,

Ted Mooney finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

Is it just me but I can't believe that for so many of us to have been wearing our jewelry for x-number of years (mine being almost 9!) that this is such a new problem? Why is this something that is happening now with a metal that has been used for generations?

I find it hard to believe the localized eczema argument and have found that the vinegar H₂0₂ solution not to work. I've been wearing metals of all sorts since a young girl - as I'm sure many of you can also say the same - and to have this just cropping up in the past few years seems to prove that there has got to be something else out there in play - what it is I have NO clue!

Yes - I'm frustrated that my wedding and engagement band burn my finger and would like to know what is causing it. I've tried everything imaginable but not gone as far as resetting them.

Amy Hersman
- Alameda, California

Skeptics of all skeptics here. But about 2 weeks after I went camping I developed a red, welty itchy rash under my wedding ring that would NOT go away. I never even wore my ring while camping so not sure if that was the cause of it or not but nonetheless, I could not wear it. I have worn it without incident for 4 years. All of a sudden I was in so much pain I couldn't put it on more than 3 hours before the rash returned. I googled the problem and came across this sight. I figured that there was no way a vinegar/peroxide bath would help but I was willing to do anything to get my gorgeous rings back on. So I boiled them for about 30 minutes in the solution, brushed it real good with a toothbrush and then did 2 coats of clear nail polish inside just in case. Miraculously, no more rash! I am thrilled, and my rings have never looked so sparkly!

Emily Vogel
- Quincy, Illinois

October 2, 2009 i developed the same problem after 10 years of wearing my rings, and after the birth of my 3rd child. i noticed that i can wear rings that have openings that allow the skin to breathe with no problems. my rings are 24 carat yellow gold. as soon as i put my other rings back on, the rash comes back. i think the answer for me is an open ring with spaces for my finger to breathe. eliza riddle - miamisburg, ohio November 19, 2009 My husband's wedding band is white gold w/ diamonds. He has had it for 1.5 yrs. and had a continuous problem with a crusty rash towards the knuckle where the ring rests. He asked me to find a site that might suggest what the problem is. I found these folks testimonies to the same problem. I'm hoping that boiling the ring in the v/hp will solve the problem. I'm hoping that this will solve the problem. It's a beautiful ring and I would hate to have it replaced. Lindel Duncan - Valparaiso,Fl.,U.S.A. 1     2     3