Medical grade silicone rings are a relatively new invention of the contemporary fashion and style industry. They have an ancient and very popular ancestor – the traditional metal ring, which has been around for ages. We might say that the silicone ring is like the rebel child of the metal ring – it’s quite the same, but it’s really not. It’s a ring. But it looks different, feels different and it requires different care.

So if you already own a silicone ring or you are planning to get yourself one, there are a few important pieces of advice to keep in mind regarding the ring’s hygiene and proper maintenance in order to avoid skin irritation. Those advices are especially important if you’re about to choose a silicone pair of wedding rings because you know…  you’ll have to keep them in mind forever.

Your ring and your skin

Medical grade silicone rings are very often preferred by people who are allergic to some kind of metal. It’s safe to say that medical silicone allergy is absolutely not as widespread as metal allergy, but it still exists. So if you have a history of experiencing any kind of rashes or skin irritations from the touch of silicone, maybe it would be wise to avoid wearing a silicone ring. Anyway, you must also consider the fact that medical-grade silicone is a different piece of cake and the probability of a skin reaction is really almost non-existent.

Sometimes skin irritation and itching might occur even if you’re not allergic to the material. This kind of “ring rash” usually appears weeks, months, or even years after you’ve put the ring on. The good news is – it’s avoidable. To put it simply, it happens because the surface of the silicone ring (like every other surface) might keep and grow some bacteria if not regularly and properly cleaned. That’s why it’s very important to take good care of the hygiene of your ring. Let’s learn how to do that.

How to keep the ring in perfect condition?

There are a few ways to avoid bacteria growth in your ring. Some of them have to do with taking the ring off during some activities like sleeping, showering, or getting your hands (really) dirty.

Some people put their rings away while sleeping and showing simply because they don’t feel comfortable. Anyway, silicone rings feel comfortable all the time, but there is another good reason for doing it. Your ring might keep some bacteria while showering and it might also keep some sweat while sleeping. Both of these are not catastrophic events, but they will make you have to clean your ring more often.

So how does the cleaning process happen? If you do it regularly (once every one or two months), soap and warm water would be just enough. If you do it more infrequently (once every three or more months), you might use a mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide – put the ring inside of it and leave it there for half an hour. After you put it out, use a brush to scrub it well.

Boiling is also an option – medical grade silicone is heat-resistant and it won’t get damaged. You can boil it after using the mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide or without using it at all – in both of the cases bacteria don’t actually stand a chance.