Wedding Ring Rash: Causes and Treatments

Imagine this: After years of blissful married life, you wake up one day and notice something peculiar – a rash under your wedding ring. *Cue the alarm bells*

Honestly, we don’t blame you for panicking. After all, who’d be pleased with symptoms like red patches creating havoc on their finger?

That said, take a deep breath in because contrary to popular belief, a wedding band rash is both common and curable. And in today’s article, we’re going to tell you exactly why it occurs and the best ways to treat it.

So, what are you waiting for? Read on…

Wedding Ring Rash: What Is It?

A ring rash is most commonly associated with wedding rings or any other ring that is constantly worn. It generally forms on the skin underneath one’s ring and is extremely noticeable when the ring is removed.

Depending on its underlying cause, this condition can feature a variety of symptoms. That said, you’ll typically notice at least one or more of the following on the skin underneath your ring:

Dry or cracked skin
Scaly patches
Red or itchy patches
Swelling or burning

Interestingly, this rash may or may not develop instantly when new rings come into contact with the skin. It may also occur years after wearing your stunner and can either remain chronic or come and go.

Wedding Ring Rash Causes: What Are They?

1) Allergic Contact Dermatitis

This inflammatory condition generally occurs when an irritant or chemical comes into contact with your skin and causes a reaction. Here, rings that feature gold, nickel or copper, can cause allergic contact dermatitis if the wearer is allergic to these metals.

Does my gold ring contain nickel or copper, you ask? Absolutely!

You see, pure gold, by itself, is too soft to deal with the ups and downs of daily life. To toughen it up, it’s usually combined with metals like nickel and copper.

So, if you have a gold wedding ring on, chances are that it contains at least a little nickel or copper. Furthermore, even these traces can cause an allergic reaction. In this scenario, when the metal of your ring comes into contact with your skin, chemicals are released by your body which cause the area to itch and become irritated.

Did You Know?

Irritant contact dermatitis may indirectly cause that itchy finger under your ring. This type of reaction generally occurs when your skin is constantly exposed to mild irritants or chemicals, like from frequent wet work or detergents and may make a person susceptible to developing allergic contact dermatitis, to, for example, nickel (which is present in the detergents).

2) Occlusion Dermatitis

This is mainly caused by the buildup of moisture, soap or debris underneath the ring.

When you wear your sparkler for a long time, lotion, soap and even dead skin cells can actually build up on the surface of your metal, in the crevasses of your band or ring and on your wedding ring setting. This can attract bacteria and cause your skin to get irritated, thereby, resulting in a rash.

What Are the Best Wedding Ring Rash Treatment Options Out There?

1) Use a Hypoallergenic Cream

Regardless of the cause of your wedding ring rash, applying a good hypoallergenic hand cream like an over-the-counter cortisone cream (topical) could do wonders.

Having said that, people with extremely sensitive skin may need to follow up with extra moisture in order to help them heal their rash. This is especially true if their hands are in and out of the water a lot.

Here, we highly suggest applying a good, non-greasy, hypoallergenic hand cream after washing. You could also use a lotion packed with ceramides as that will not only moisturize the skin but also protect it.

Additionally, remember to take off your wedding ring before you wash, dry and moisturize your hands as this will prevent water and soap from getting trapped under your ring and causing further irritation.

Also Read: When to Take Off Your Engagement Ring?

2) Get Your Ring Cleaned

If your rash or skin irritation is caused by soap scum buildup under the ring, getting your ring cleaned by a professional may help. Here, not only will they remove the buildup of dirt, dead skin and soap from the ring, but they’ll also do so while making sure your stones are protected and preserving your settings.

3) Only Use Gentle Soaps

Generally speaking, antibacterial and deodorizing soaps can be harsh on the skin, making it dry. This in turn can further irritate the skin and make any existing dermatitis worse. As such, we highly recommend only using moisturizers, soaps and cleansers specifically marked for gentle skin.

Also read: Which Hand and Finger Does a Wedding Ring Go On?

4) Get Your Ring Plated

This one is more of a wedding ring rash prevention tip than a treatment.

You see, getting your ring plated will help you create a barrier between your skin and the nickel or copper present within the same. If your stunner has grey or silver undertones, then opting for a rhodium plating is a great option.

You could also opt for a platinum or gold (provided you aren’t allergic) plating if you don’t mind paying a little extra.

Alternatively, you could also replace your ring with a platinum sparkler as platinum is hypoallergenic and therefore, won’t cause an allergic reaction. This is also a great option when it comes to your engagement ring.

Ring Rash Doctor Visit: When Is the Right Time to Go?

Once you start using an over-the-counter cortisone cream to treat your rash, it should clear up in a week or so. That said, if your rash was caused by a gold, copper or nickel allergy, it could take anywhere between two to four weeks to clear up entirely.

However, if your rash persists even after the treatment or gets worse, we recommend visiting your doctor as you may need a stronger treatment like prescription topical steroids, allergy medication and/or oral medication for inflammation. What’s more, if an infection is present, you might need antibiotics or an antibiotic cream to help treat the same.

Want to know something interesting about wedding rings? Read our article and find out why wedding rings are worn on the left hand.

Up Next: Should You Sleep With Your Engagement Ring On?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What’s a wedding ring rash?

A wedding ring rash generally occurs on the skin underneath one’s ring and is extremely noticeable when the ring is removed. Depending on the underlying cause, this condition could have various symptoms such as dry or cracked skin, scaly patches, red or itchy patches and swelling or burning.

Q2. What causes a wedding ring rash?

This condition could be caused by a gold, copper or nickel allergy. It could also be caused by the buildup of moisture, soap or debris underneath the ring.

Q3. How do I know if I have a wedding ring rash?

If you experience symptoms like dry or cracked skin, scaly patches, red or itchy patches and swelling or burning on the skin underneath your ring, you could have a wedding ring rash.

Q4. How can I treat a wedding ring rash?

Getting your ring cleaned, applying over-the-counter topical cortisone cream and using gentle soaps are great ways to treat your wedding ring rash.

Q5. When should I see a doctor?

If your rash persists after four weeks or gets worse despite treating it with an over-the-counter cortisone cream, visit your doctor immediately.

Q6. How can I prevent a wedding ring rash?

Getting your ring plated with a hypoallergenic metal or exchanging it for a platinum one are great ways to prevent a wedding ring rash. We also recommend cleaning your ring and keeping the skin around your ring area clean and dry to avoid or at least minimize another ring rash episode.