Ladies? Put clear nail polish on the inside of a ring?

Lovdiamnd
Lovdiamnd Posts: 624 Member
in Chit-Chat
I have been wearing my wedding ring for 4 1/2 years now but for the last year or so it causes a rash or something on my finger. I have had it professionally cleaned but it still happens. I think that water and lotion get in the back and the moisture causes it?? I don't know but once I take my ring off for awhile it goes away. My best friend suggested putting clear nail polish on the inside?? I have a really expensive ring! Has anyone ever done that before? I was horrified when she told me that. The ring is white gold and I wore it for almost 3 years with no problems so it's not the metal that I am allergic to or anything.

Replies

  • kimmie185
    kimmie185 Posts: 550 Member
    Try cleaning the ring it with alcohol or peroxide a few days a week and see if the rash it goes away....

    I'm with you, I would dread putting anything on my expensive wedding ring.
  • kimmie185
    kimmie185 Posts: 550 Member
    this article may help. :)

    http://theselittlemoments.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/how-to-get-rid-of-a-rash-under-your-wedding-rings/
  • Lovdiamnd
    Lovdiamnd Posts: 624 Member
    Thank you! I use ring cleaner, but I guess it it mostly ammonia and wont kill bacteria I am guessing.
  • 1shauna1
    1shauna1 Posts: 993 Member
    I agree with the alcohol. Make sure you dry the area under your ring after washing your hands as probably the moisture that is stuck there is ending up irritating your skin.
  • Lovdiamnd
    Lovdiamnd Posts: 624 Member
    Yes when I am drying my hands I slip it part way off and dry under and around it quickly. I can't tell if it helps :-/ So what do ya'll think about the nail polish? If I put it on the back then those holes can't trap bacteria right?
  • moondawg14
    moondawg14 Posts: 249 Member
    Try cleaning the ring it with alcohol or peroxide a few days a week and see if the rash it goes away....

    I'm with you, I would dread putting anything on my expensive wedding ring.

    As long as it is gold, silver or platinum, there's not much you could do to hurt it. You could paint it every color under the sun.... And then dro it in some thinner and it would look like new.
  • hummingbird71
    hummingbird71 Posts: 298 Member
    Mine used to do that too... and yes mine was from where I would wash my hands and my ring would trap some water and then that moisture stayed there and caused irritation. Now after I wash my hands I take my ring off and really dry it out and dry my hands before I put it back on. When I put lotion on I leave my rings off for a bit before putting them back on and make sure I don't get any lotion on the inside of my ring. This has helped and and since doing this I have not had any problems.
  • WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr
    WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr Posts: 2,150 Member
    More likely it's a yeast infection, your doctor can prescribe a lotion if it gets bad. You need to make sure that you loosen your ring when you're drying your hands so you dry the skin under the ring (also by loosening the ring, it will help release the moisture getting trapped in the ring)
  • Kilokata
    Kilokata Posts: 111
    I have been wearing my wedding ring for 4 1/2 years now but for the last year or so it causes a rash or something on my finger. I have had it professionally cleaned but it still happens. I think that water and lotion get in the back and the moisture causes it?? I don't know but once I take my ring off for awhile it goes away. My best friend suggested putting clear nail polish on the inside?? I have a really expensive ring! Has anyone ever done that before? I was horrified when she told me that. The ring is white gold and I wore it for almost 3 years with no problems so it's not the metal that I am allergic to or anything.

    You can develop what's called a "contact dermatitis" out of nowhere. It can be a slowly acquired sensitivity to certain metals/chemicals/acids due to repeated exposure. It's more common than you think to develop a dermatitis, and depending on whether or not that's what you have, there's a few ways to deal with it.

    If you HAVE developed a sensitivity to gold, there's not much you can do about it other than not wear the ring, or use clear nail polish on the inside of the band. The nail polish functions as a barrier between the metal and your skin, and may help to alleviate the rash. It's only nail polish, it doesn't matter how expensive your ring is, if you need to take the nail polish off just use some nail polish remover. Neither substance will harm your ring - even if you use an acetone based polish remover. Acetone is an organic solvent and organic solvents can only attack things that are based on oil, like plastics or wood finishes. Metals are only affected by strong acids or bases and shouldn't be harmed by organics.

    If you're worried about removing the polish and don't want to take a chance on the nail polish remover, chip it off with a fingernail or take it to a jeweler and have it cleaned. Easy easy.

    If it ISN'T a dermatitis or metal sensitivity, it's either something fungal, bacterial or just irritation from sweat. Try cleaning your ring with alcohol or something to sterilize it - leave it off for long enough for the rash to clear up and then try it again.

    Either way, not much fun. Sorry :(
  • Lovdiamnd
    Lovdiamnd Posts: 624 Member
    Thank you.
  • RHOBelfortHills
    RHOBelfortHills Posts: 1
    The same thing happened to me after wearing my white gold ring for 5 years with no problems. I tried many home remedies, olive oil, red cider vinegar (ouch), Udderly Smooth lotion, Eucherin... nothing worked. I developed cracking and finally had to take my ring off. After finally going to the Dr., for unrelated sickness, I showed her my hand. She said it was a classic case of nickel allergy, that happens most often when the white gold eventually wears off and exposes the nickel beneath. She prescribed me antibiotics, a Rx cream, Clobetesal Propionate .05%, and Rx Hydrocodosone for when I am out of the Clobetesal. It cleared it up. Google images of nickel ring allergy and see if it looks like what you are experiencing. Apparently, it is pretty common. I took my ring to get it cleaned and a new coat of Rhodium. When I got it back, it looked showcase new, and I was so excited to wear it again. Unfortunately, my allergy came back pretty quickly, which my Dr. said she was afraid of. She said it is like many allergies, they come upon you, years after having no problems whatsoever, then boom, they don't go away. That is how I stumbled upon your Q, since I was going back to square one, and googled clear nail polish on ring for nickel allergy. But I really, really don't want to put that on my ring. I had my mystery solved, but still can't wear my beautiful ring...bummer. Hope this helps you. :smile:

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