Have you ever wondered if the materials you wear in your body really matter? The answer is a resounding yes! It is crucial to understand the differences in piercing jewelry materials and quality to ensure your long-term health and prevent any undesirable reactions that can lead to scarring or discoloration. Manufacturers and suppliers vary greatly in terms of quality and materials used, so it’s essential to be knowledgeable about what you are buying.
At TKTX Numbing Cream Store, we prioritize your health and satisfaction. We carefully select all our jewelry to ensure the highest quality, reasonable prices, and ethical sourcing. We offer a range of brand name jewelry such as Anatometal, Neometal, Industrial Strength, LeRoi BVLA, Body Gems, as well as beautiful non-brand pieces that are excellent quality without the hefty price tag. Our experienced team is always available to answer any questions and provide guidance on your piercing journey.
What Could Go Wrong with Low-Grade Body Jewelry?
Wearing low-grade body jewelry can have several negative consequences. The most common issue is skin discoloration, which can be permanent. Other problems include dryness, soreness, allergic reactions, and in severe cases, metal poisoning. Allergic reactions can occur due to either an individual’s sensitivity to a specific material, even high-quality ones, or wearing cheap jewelry made of unsuitable materials. Symptoms of material allergies typically include redness, swelling, itching, and, in severe cases, blisters and infection. Removing the allergenic material usually resolves the reaction and allows the skin to heal.
Understanding Metal Allergies
Allergic reactions can occur with any material, but some metals are more likely to cause reactions than others. Less inert metals like nickel or lead commonly lead to allergic reactions, whereas more inert metals like titanium or niobium are less likely to cause any issues. It’s important to note that allergic reactions to metals are relatively common, while reactions to more harmless materials like titanium are rare. An allergic reaction is when your immune system overreacts to a specific material, resulting in symptoms such as contact dermatitis, redness, swelling, itchiness, and potential infection.
Choosing the Right Materials for Piercings
When it comes to body jewelry, it’s crucial to select materials that are safe and biocompatible. Here are some options recommended for initial piercings and fresh stretches:
Titanium
Titanium is an excellent choice for initial piercings due to its strength, density ratio, and corrosion resistance. It does not readily react with oxygen or body fluids, making it suitable for most people, even those with sensitivities. It is non-magnetic, safe for airport scanners, easily sterilized, and available in various finishes and colors. We offer only the highest medical grade titanium, compliant with ASTM F136 or ISO5832 standards, ensuring your safety and peace of mind.
Niobium
Niobium shares many properties with titanium, such as biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. Although slightly heavier and softer, niobium is an excellent option for initial piercings. It is essential to choose high-quality, pure niobium jewelry to ensure your safety and avoid any potential reactions or complications.
Glass
Borosilicate glass, lead-free soda-lime glass, or fused quartz glass are all excellent materials for initial piercings or freshly stretched piercings. Glass is inert, biocompatible, and can even be implanted under the skin without issues. It’s crucial to purchase glass jewelry from reputable suppliers to ensure the absence of impurities or heavy metals like lead. Gorilla Glass and Glasswear Studios are well-known brands that offer high-quality borosilicate glass jewelry.
Surgical Steel
While not all surgical steel is suitable for initial piercings, high-quality surgical implant-grade steel can be a safe option for healed piercings. It is crucial to choose surgical steel certified to meet ASTM F136 or ISO standards to ensure biocompatibility and avoid any potential allergic reactions. If you have a nickel allergy, it’s best to avoid steel jewelry unless you are confident in its quality and nickel content.
Plastics (Polymers)
Plastics have been used in piercings and implants for their lightweight and biocompatible properties. However, not all polymers and acrylics are suitable for initial piercings or fresh stretches. It is important to choose non-reactive and non-porous plastics, such as PFTE (Teflon), Bioplast, PMMA, or acrylic from reputable suppliers. These materials should be certified as biocompatible and free from additives.
Precious Metals
High-quality solid precious metals like gold, platinum, and silver can be worn in healed piercings as long as the wearer is not allergic to them. It is crucial to choose jewelry specifically designed to be biocompatible, avoiding metals that commonly cause allergic reactions, such as nickel. We recommend trusted manufacturers like Anatometal, BVLA, Body Gems, and LeRoi for safe gold jewelry. Avoid wearing silver in fresh or healed piercings, as it can oxidize and cause discoloration or, in extreme cases, silver poisoning.
Stone
Non-porous stones like rose quartz, amethyst, onyx, obsidian, and more can be worn in healed piercings, particularly in stretched earlobes. Stone jewelry is often utilized to naturally stretch the ears and can help reduce odor associated with stretched lobes. It’s important to choose high-quality stone without natural flaws that can harbor bacteria and risk infection. Stone jewelry is easy to keep clean by washing with mild antibacterial soap and water.
Wood
Wooden jewelry is lightweight, porous, and offers excellent breathability, making it a comfortable option for well-healed stretches. Hardwoods treated and polished for body jewelry purposes are ideal, as they do not tend to swell or absorb body fluids. It’s important to oil wooden plugs regularly with jojoba oil or vitamin E oil to keep them supple and in good condition. Avoid wearing wood jewelry in water or subjecting it to extreme changes in temperature or humidity.
Fauna (Horn, Bone, Shell, Coral, Ivory)
When choosing jewelry made from fauna materials, it is crucial to ensure suppliers source from sustainable and ethical sources. Fauna jewelry should only be worn in well-healed stretches, as it cannot be autoclaved and is porous. Regularly oiling fauna jewelry with bio or jojoba oil helps maintain its condition. These materials offer unique and beautiful options but require extra care to prevent any potential issues.
Silicone
Silicone jewelry can be worn in the body as long as it is certified as biocompatible. While allergic reactions to silicone are rare, some individuals may experience a reaction to the dye in silicone products. If allergic reactions occur, opting for clear silicone or medical implant-grade silicone is recommended. Silicone tunnels should not be used for stretching purposes.
Materials to Avoid
Certain materials should never be worn in piercings or only for very short durations due to their potential risks:
- Lead: Extremely toxic and can accumulate in the body, causing various health issues. Avoid any jewelry suspected of containing lead.
- Copper: Highly reactive and can cause allergic reactions and skin discoloration. Excess copper can negatively affect the liver, bone growth, and nerve conduction.
- Zinc: Can cause allergic reactions and suppress the absorption and use of other nutrients.
- Tin: Reacts in the body, potentially leading to poisoning. Tin can contain trace amounts of lead and organotin compounds, which can be highly toxic.
- Brass: Contains copper and zinc, both of which can cause metal poisoning and irritate the skin. Be cautious when wearing brass jewelry, especially in mucosal areas.
- Bronze: An alloy of copper and tin that can cause allergic reactions and skin discoloration. Some bronze mixes may contain arsenic, which is highly toxic.
- Silver: Should not be worn in fresh piercings due to oxidization and potential toxicity. Silver jewelry should be restricted to well-healed piercings for short durations.
- Iron or non-surgical stainless steel: Can rust and cause septic reactions. Only wear implant-grade surgical stainless steel in piercings.
- Plated metals or metals containing cadmium: Cadmium is toxic and carcinogenic, and plated jewelry can harbor bacteria, risking infection.
- Costume jewelry: Many costume jewelry pieces contain lead and should be avoided.
As a responsible and trusted source for body jewelry, TKTX Numbing Cream Store advises against wearing any jewelry or materials of questionable quality or composition in your piercings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What materials are best for initial piercings?
A: Titanium, niobium, glass, and certain plastics like PTFE (Teflon) and Bioplast are suitable for initial piercings due to their biocompatibility and non-reactive properties.
Q: Can I wear gold or silver in fresh piercings?
A: Gold can be worn in fresh piercings if it is at least 14k and doesn’t contain harmful impurities. Silver should never be worn in fresh piercings due to oxidation and potential silver poisoning.
Q: How do I care for stone jewelry?
A: Stone jewelry can be washed with mild antibacterial soap and water to keep it clean. It’s important to choose high-quality stones without natural flaws that can harbor bacteria.
Q: Are there any materials I should never wear in my piercings?
A: It is best to avoid wearing materials such as lead, copper, zinc, tin, brass, bronze, and non-surgical stainless steel in your piercings due to potential toxicity or reactivity.
Q: Can I wear wood jewelry in water?
A: Wood jewelry should not be submerged in water or exposed to extreme changes in temperature or humidity, as it can swell or crack.
For more specific questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable team at TKTX Numbing Cream Store.
Conclusion
Choosing the right materials for your piercings is crucial for your health, comfort, and overall satisfaction. At TKTX Numbing Cream Store, we prioritize safety, quality, and ethical sourcing. Our wide range of jewelry options, including titanium, niobium, glass, and other recommended materials, ensures that you can find the perfect pieces for your piercings. Remember to avoid materials that can cause allergic reactions or have potential toxic effects on the body. If you ever have any questions or concerns, our expert team is always here to assist you. Happy piercing!
