Green skin is a problem that puts many people off wearing copper, but it’s quite easy to prevent.
Why Does my Skin go Green?
If you look at any copper roofs on churches, town halls etc. you will see that, unless they are new, they are green. This verdigris is seen as aesthetically desirable, and also has the effect of protecting the copper from further erosion. Chemically, it is a copper carbonate, appearing due to the natural oxidization process as the copper is exposed to the elements.
Your green (or sometimes blue) skin is a similar process, due to the copper reacting to the salts and oils naturally occuring on your skin, along with lotions and cosmetics. Your skin’s pH can also have an effect on this, and some people find that copper sometimes colours their skin, and sometimes doesn’t. This is most likely due to changes in the skin at varying times.
You will also find that jewellery in close contact with the skin, such as rings, are more likely to discolour the skin, than, say, pendants.
The good news is that this isn’t toxic, and isn’t an indication of an allergy to copper. Unfortunately, unlike copper roofs, green skin isn’t seen as a desirable feature, but thankfully you can enjoy wearing copper without this side-effect.
The Number 1 Way to Prevent Green Skin
I have two words for you: Renaissance Wax. This will create a protective layer on your copper pieces. I do try hard not to endorse particular brands, but this is readily available and was developed by the British Museum in the 50’s specifically for conservation purposes. It is a microcrystalline wax, which is more stable than other waxes which can become acidic over time.
To use, you just need to apply a very small amount of the wax onto your jewellery, ensuring all of the surfaces of the piece are covered, and then buff. For longetivity, you can apply 2 to 3 layers, but give each layer time to ‘dry’ and set between applications.
Whilst Renaissance Wax is long-lasting, it will wear over time, and therefore re-application may be necessary, depending how often the jewellery is worn.
Minimising Green Skin with Bare Copper
Sometimes, you don’t want to coat your jewellery with anything. This might be due to using the piece for therapeutic reasons, or perhaps you have heat-coloured the piece and want the option to change the colours by reheating in the future.
In these instances, you can’t entirely prevent discolouration, but it can be minimised, by keeping the jewellery, and the skin clean. Simply wiping the jewellery with a soft cloth before and after wearing will remove the oils and sweat that cause discolouration.
If you need deeper cleaning, perhaps as patina is starting to develop, a simple and fast method is to wet the piece with lemon juice, then rub with table salt until clean. Rinse then dry thoroughly.
Homemade Solutions
If you want to protect your jewellery pieces but dont want to, or can’t get Renaissance Wax, there are several other options that essentially are creating a barrier between the copper and your skin. A couple to note are:
Nail Polish: Some people swear by this. Simply coat the back of the jewellery with clear nail polish. Personally, I think this will be fine until the polish eventually starts to wear, chips or flakes, in which case it could be both unsightly and uncomfortable.
Car Wax: Simply apply in the same was as the Renaissance Wax. Again some people swear by this, I suspect it may depend on the consistency of the wax and how intricate the jewellery is as to whether a smooth finish can be achieved and I would expect that is won’t last as long.
I haven’t tried either of these solutions, so cannot vouch for them personally. I mention them here, as I always encourage experimentation, and you may want to try something different. If you do, please let me know how you get on! For my pieces, I use Renaissance Wax, and so far I have had no issues with the results, so can recommend this method.
Do you have another method that you swear by? Let me know your experiences on my social media!