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The thrill of getting a newbody piercingis all in choosing the perfect jewelry to showcase it.
Titanium is so safe that it is often used as the metal of choice for surgical implants."
Like titanium, niobium is biocompatible, and it provides plenty of shine and impressive structural integrity.
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For best results, seek out jewelry labeled as 99.9% niobium or 999 Niobium.
For example, 24-karat gold has a very soft texture, making germ-trapping nicks more likely.
But according to Faris, solid 14K and 18K gold jewelry works well for first-time piercings.
Its good [as an alternative] when people have skin allergies to silver and gold."
While copper makes the silver more durable, it may also be more likely to react with your skin.
Pure silver is considered hypoallergenic, but piercing experts generally urge customers to approach silver jewelry with caution.
What Metal Should Not Be Used for Piercings?
Many people aresensitiveto even small amounts of nickel,and popular piercing metals like sterling silver often contain it.
Wondering how to spot nickel?
To be certain, Dr. Camp recommends an at-home test.
Materials that either absorb fluids or are prone to scratching also make poor candidates for safebody jewelrychoices.
According to Dr. Camp, “Allergic contact dermatitis represents a true allergic reaction to a compound or ingredient.
Metals, dyes, fragrances, and preservatives are common causes of allergic contact dermatitis.
It causes a rash on the skin that presents with redness, itch, and scaling.”
The Final Takeaway
“Inert, hypoallergenic metals are less likely to cause skin irritation.
If any irritation occurs, discard the jewelry and avoid wearing body jewelry made from that material.
2019 May;81(4):227-41. doi:10.1111/cod.13327
