The Effect of Copper Earrings on Skin
Copper jewelry is appreciated by many for its beauty and the fact that it is so malleable. It lends itself to many different types of designs. Copper jewelry is said to have many health benefits for its wearer, but for others, green skin isn't worth the benefits. Does this Spark an idea?
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Effects
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Dr. Ray Walker at the University of Australia says that when copper is in contact with the skin, it forms chelates with human sweat, seen as a green deposit under earrings, rings, and bracelets, which is, in turn, absorbed by the skin. Walker says to think of the process as a "time release" source of copper.
History
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Dr. Walker also states that copper compounds are good for your health; in fact, copper compounds are more effective and a lot less toxic than drugs for arthritis treatment. In Europe during the medieval period, Paracelsus used copper to treat the "bad mixture of bodily humors."
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Significance
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Copper is an essential trace mineral and there is debate over its positive impact on health; however, there is popular belief that copper helps improve metabolism and red cell production. What is certain is that copper's green deposit does not hurt the skin.
Copper Jewelry and Green Skin
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Copper earrings may turn a portion of your skin green, depending on how much of the actual copper is touching the skin. Rings are the most likely copper jewelry to leave a green deposit because they are in constant contact with the skin.
Caring for Copper
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Copper will eventually oxidize unless it has been protected with some sort of varnish or protective coat. Copper will eventually weather into a patina that is a soft shade of green.
Fun Fact
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The Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan is home to one of the highest concentrations of native copper in the world. Other deposits are found in Germany, Australia, Bolivia, England, Russia, and Arizona.
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References
- Photo Credit necklace and earrings image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
