Short answer: a green mark on your skin is usually caused by copper in the metal reacting with sweat, moisture, skincare or perfume. It's common with brass, copper and plated fashion jewellery, especially once the plating starts to wear, and it can occasionally happen with sterling silver too. The mark is harmless and washes off with soap and water, and a few simple habits help prevent it.
Why jewellery turns skin green
Many metals used in jewellery contain copper. Brass is mostly copper and zinc, and sterling silver is 92.5% silver alloyed with other metals, usually copper. When copper meets moisture, salt from sweat, or the acids and oils in lotions and perfumes, it slowly oxidises and forms copper compounds that can rub off onto your skin as a green or grey-green tint.
Plated jewellery has a thin layer of gold or silver over a base metal such as brass or copper. While the plating is intact, the base metal stays covered. As the plating wears thin, often on the inside of rings or the back of earrings, the base metal can come into contact with your skin. To understand the differences between finishes, read our guide to gold-plated, vermeil, gold-filled and solid gold.
When it's more likely to happen
- Hot, humid weather: more sweat means more moisture against the metal. See our summer jewellery care guide.
- Rings: hand washing, sanitiser and lotion all collect under a ring.
- After exercise, showering or swimming: water, sweat and chlorine speed up the reaction.
- Worn plating: older plated pieces are more likely to leave a mark than new ones.
- Your own skin chemistry: some people find certain metals mark their skin more than others.
Is it harmful?
A green tint on its own is a harmless surface stain, not a reaction inside the skin. It washes off with mild soap and water. It's different from a skin reaction: if your skin becomes itchy, red, swollen or blistered where the jewellery sits, stop wearing that piece and speak to your GP or a dermatologist, as this may be a sensitivity to a metal such as nickel.
How to stop jewellery turning your skin green
1. Keep it dry
Take jewellery off before showering, swimming, washing up or exercising, and dry your skin and hands before putting rings back on.
2. Skincare first, jewellery last
Apply lotion, sunscreen, perfume and hairspray first, and let them dry completely before you put your jewellery on.
3. Wipe after every wear
Wipe each piece gently with a soft, dry cloth before storing it, paying attention to the inside of rings and the backs of earrings, where sweat and product collect.
4. Store it dry and separate
Keep pieces in a closed pouch or jewellery roll away from the bathroom. Humidity speeds up oxidation, and storing pieces separately also protects the plating from scratches.
5. Clean gently
Avoid harsh cleaners, abrasive polishes and toothpaste, which can wear plating faster and expose the base metal. Our guides to cleaning gold jewellery and cleaning silver jewellery explain safe methods.
How to remove the green mark from your skin
Wash the area with warm water and mild soap. For a stubborn mark, gently use a cotton pad with a little micellar water or makeup remover, then rinse and moisturise. Avoid scrubbing hard.
Which jewellery is less likely to leave a mark?
Pieces made in 925 sterling silver and higher-karat solid gold are generally less likely to turn skin green than brass or copper-based fashion jewellery, although sterling silver can still occasionally leave a faint mark in humid conditions. For earrings, sterling silver posts reduce the amount of base metal in contact with the piercing. Every Lyastone product page lists the materials used, so you can check before you buy.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a green mark mean my jewellery is fake?
Not necessarily. Many genuine materials contain copper, including sterling silver and some gold alloys. A green mark tells you copper is reacting with moisture, not whether a piece is "real". Check the product's listed materials instead.
Can sterling silver turn my skin green?
Occasionally, yes. Sterling silver contains a small amount of copper, so in hot, humid conditions or with lots of moisture it can leave a faint mark. It's less common than with brass or copper-based jewellery.
Will gold-plated jewellery always turn my skin green?
No. While the plating is intact, the base metal is covered. Gentle care helps the plating last longer. Read do gold-plated earrings tarnish? for more tips.
For more ways to look after your pieces, visit our Jewellery Care Guide.