Why does jewelry turn my skin green?
Jewelry usually turns skin green when copper in brass or another alloy reacts with sweat, water, lotion, or soap. The green color is a copper salt left on the skin, not mold. Stainless steel contains no brass base, so it removes the most common source of that green transfer.
What causes the green mark?
Gold itself does not normally leave a green mark. The usual source is copper beneath a thin gold-colored coating. Moisture and acids on the skin accelerate oxidation, and the resulting copper compounds transfer to the finger, wrist, or neck.
The mark is generally washable, but recurring discoloration is a sign that the base metal is exposed or reacting through the finish.
Does green skin mean an allergy?
Not necessarily. Green discoloration is a chemical reaction, while an allergy more often causes itching, redness, swelling, or soreness. Nickel is a common contact allergen, so sensitive-ear jewelry deserves separate attention from jewelry that merely stains skin.
Which base metals avoid green skin?
Stainless steel, titanium, and solid precious metals do not rely on a brass base. Siafra specifies stainless steel rather than brass. The grade is being confirmed with the supplier, and nickel release testing is scheduled before the first run ships. Both will be published rather than described.