Help with wedding ring

[carissanboys]

I haven't worn my wedding ring much the past 2 1/2 years. I took it off when I was pregnant with my youngest and it took me a while to lose the weight from that. Then I'd try to wear it, but it felt weird because I'd gone ring-free for so long.

Anyway, the past few months I've tried wearing it again. But after a few days, I find that it starts to irritate my skin. I'll get an itchy rash around my finger. This never happened before. It's yellow gold, 14K. It's a channel band, I believe it's called, but the diamonds are just on the top, inside the band. I have another ring that is white gold and doesn't bother me at all.

Does anyone have any thoughts? It's very important to me that I start wearing my wedding ring again, but I don't want to have to spend money and buy a new one (thus the reason I'm posting this on the budget board ).

Thanks!

 

[lowie]

try making sure that you take it off whenever your hands get wet and dry them thoroughly before putting it back on. paint the inside with clear nail polish and try to cut back on acidic things, like orange juice.

 

[waughzee]

My body chemistry changed after I had DS and I could not wear a lot of the jewelry that I had previously worn. Rings and earrings did the same thing to me that you are describing. I was told it was a nickel allergy, luckily my engagement/wedding rings must be nickel-free. Good luck figuring something out.

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

Ok, I had this happen at one point too, but it's better now. What I was told to try was to paint the inside of my rings with clear nail polish as a buffer. Of course that means you have to be willing to do that to your rings...but I was. To me it was a big deal to be able to keep wearing the ring that he put on my finger the day that we took our vows instead of having to switch. It does wear off eventually of course, I used to have to "repaint" every month or so. Now it's all worn off and for whatever reason I don't have a problem anymore. Good luck to you.
The really hard part was when it started happening on my face from the nickel in my glasses!!! I had a terrible time finding frames that wouldn't hurt!

 

[ducklite]

My husband has the same problem. He takes his ring off at night amd when his hands are going to be wet for a long time (food prep for example) and it seems to keep the rash away.

I only have problems when I stack my wedding band, anniversary band and engagement ring together in the summer. Usually I just wear the anniversary band when it's really hot out. My anniversary band is 1/4 size larger than the other two rings, so when my fingers swell it's still got a little room.

You might want to have the wedding band sized up by 1/4 size by a reputable jeweler. It will allow more air to circulate under the ring. It shouldn't cost more than $35 or so--a lot less than buying a new ring!

Anne

 

[3mickeymom]

I get a rash under my rings whenever I buy Dawn dish soap. It took me a while to figure this out but I believe it is very strong soap. I don't remove my rings everytime I wash my hands(I'm afraid I'll loose them) Make sure you are using mild soap and see if this helps. Its great that you can wear your rings again Though!!

 

[ducklite]

I get a rash under my rings whenever I buy Dawn dish soap. It took me a while to figure this out but I believe it is very strong soap. I don't remove my rings everytime I wash my hands(I'm afraid I'll loose them) Make sure you are using mild soap and see if this helps. Its great that you can wear your rings again Though!!

Use gloves when doing your dishes!! Your hands will thank you--and you can tolerate MUCH hotter water!

Anne

 

[princesspwrhr]

You can get your ring resized relatively inexpensively. As mentioned that would allow it to move more freely.

Take it off when getting wet -another great suggestion

Or - if your white gold doesn't bother you - have your wedding band dipped.

My mom and I both prefer white gold or silver. She had to pawn her ring when I was very small and they were trying to scrape by, but for their 25th my dad was finally able to get her a new set. The set she fell in love with was yellow gold - the jeweler was the one who said it could be dipped. She LOVES it. I don't know what it cost though. I talked to my dh about dipping mine - he was mildly offended because he doesn't like white gold/silver and if I did mine, then ours wouldn't match. Sometimes he surprises me at the things he does care about. So I still have yellow gold......

 

[trulygoofy]

I had the same problem start a year ago. The jeweler told me it was from getting soap and other irritants like cleaning products under the ring. I take the rings off periodically and make sure they are dry underneath after washing my hands. If I think I am getting a rash underneath, then I wear my band on one hand and the engagement ring on the other for a few days. This has helped me, but it is weird that these things just pop up all of a sudden. Until I spoke to my jeweler I thought it was just me, but apparently it is a common problem.

 

[spima3]

It's very important to me that I start wearing my wedding ring again, but I don't want to have to spend money and buy a new one (thus the reason I'm posting this on the budget board ). Thanks!

My wedding ring was always a little tight from day 1. After 3 pregnancies, it became constricting and I had to take it off. However, I bought a sterling silver ring at Walmart for about $5.00. Looks good, feels great, and is as budget concious as you can get, I think.

lori

 

[tadamom]

I had this happen once with an anniversary band. What I did was take the ring off and have it cleaned really well -- I think just a bunch of 'gunk' had gotten under it and it irritated my skin. Take it to a jewelry store - they will usually clean your rings for free. I would also recommend getting the ring sized a little bigger so that it won't be so constricting on your finger and air can get under it.

 

[carissanboys]

Or - if your white gold doesn't bother you - have your wedding band dipped.

I talked to my dh about dipping mine - he was mildly offended because he doesn't like white gold/silver and if I did mine, then ours wouldn't match. Sometimes he surprises me at the things he does care about. So I still have yellow gold......

I didn't realize you could do that. Would it matter that it has diamonds on the top? My husband actually chose white gold when we got our bands so they don't match at the moment anyway.

Thank you to everyone for your ideas! I'm bad about remembering to take my ring off when I'm washing hands or dishes, but I'm sure that has a lot to do with. I'll try everyone's tips.

 

[ducklite]

I had a very unsuccessful "dip" done on a ring once, and frankly do'nt know that I'd ever suggest doing it.

JMHO.

Anne

 

[Tazicket]

When my rings get crud on them, I put them in a glass bowl. Then, I boil some water with a little dish soap in it and pour it over the rings. I let them sit for about 30 minutes. The hot water/dish soap combo really gets them clean and sparkly.

 

[carissanboys]

When my rings get crud on them, I put them in a glass bowl. Then, I boil some water with a little dish soap in it and pour it over the rings. I let them sit for about 30 minutes. The hot water/dish soap combo really gets them clean and sparkly.

Thanks! I love tips on getting my rings clean. I've always used a toothbrush and toothpaste to clean mine (someone told me that years ago).

 

[englishteacha]

My DH had never worn any jewelry until we got married. He was getting a terrible rash under his ring. We found that it doesn't bother him at all when his hands are dry. He takes it off any time he washes his hands, takes a shower, or swims. Since he also takes his watch off, he puts it on his watch band so it doesn't get lost. He sometimes forgets to put it back on, which irked me at first, but I'd rather his finger not fall off! It's habit now (5 years) but it took a while before he'd remember.

You could keep a ring box/dish by your sinks so you'll have a safe place to put your ring when you're not wearing it. Wearing gloves when you clean and wash dishes will help, too.

I've heard good things about the nail polish trick. My sister does it with all her rings. It's really helped her. Her fingers were really irritated by all her rings.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

You can get your ring resized relatively inexpensively. As mentioned that would allow it to move more freely.

Take it off when getting wet -another great suggestion

Or - if your white gold doesn't bother you - have your wedding band dipped.

My mom and I both prefer white gold or silver. She had to pawn her ring when I was very small and they were trying to scrape by, but for their 25th my dad was finally able to get her a new set. The set she fell in love with was yellow gold - the jeweler was the one who said it could be dipped. She LOVES it. I don't know what it cost though. I talked to my dh about dipping mine - he was mildly offended because he doesn't like white gold/silver and if I did mine, then ours wouldn't match. Sometimes he surprises me at the things he does care about. So I still have yellow gold......

A couple things from a jewelry sales person (me).

Sizing - Ring sizing up 1 full size can run you anywhere from $20-$35 per ring. Make sure where your ring is a channel that it is no more than 1 full size as it will loosen the channel and make sure the jeweler that sizes it also checks and tightens the channel when it is sized. This will allow more circulation under the ring.

Have the ring "deep" cleaned by a professional jeweler. They have certain chemicals that will eat through any and all gunt that DOES get under your ring - esp. with an open channel underneath. While this may help, it seldom does.

Usually the culprit is a reaction to an alloy in the yellow gold - most commonly nickel but could be 1 of many. The reason many do not break out with white gold is because there is little or no nickel added into it in the melted process. Sometimes it is hormonal other times it could be because of a recent medication that you added in to your diet - antibiotics, vitamins, etc. all cause your chemistry to react differently. It can go away! You can paint the inside of your ring with fingernail polish - this will determine if you are having a reaction to the metal and it will put off a permanent solution - maybe resetting the diamonds into platinum or white gold. While yes, you can redip a ring it is being dipped in rhodium, not white gold. And that is a plating that WILL wear off over time. Could be 3 months or 1 year or more...depends on how active your hands are. Usually cost is $25-$35 per piece.

Hope this helps.