Is your Gold Jewelry Discoloring your Finger?

The only flaw in this otherwise perfect portrait is that gold has started to discolor your finger.

While this is not normal, there is no reason to panic either. The first thing to know and remember is that it is physically harmless, and not necessarily indicative of poor metal quality. This means it is not a sure thing that your gold is damaged in any way, although there are some reasons why this may be happening.

The most common explanation is that the metal of the ring is reacting with the acids present in your skin. Oxidation is causing the change in color. Another possibility is that one or more of your cosmetic products has rubbed off on the metal of the band, wearing some of it off and leaving a smudge on your finger.