| Two of the most common issues with body | | | | #3 Gold |
| piercings are allergic reactions and infection. | | | | Although it is beautiful, gold is not the best choice |
| Correct care and cleaning of piercings are crucial, | | | | for body jewelry, especially for initial piercings or |
| but the type of metal in the piercing jewelry you | | | | long term wear. Because gold is a softer metal |
| choose is also very important. The following are | | | | and is made with metal alloys, there is a |
| the top 3 best metals for body jewelry, and two | | | | somewhat higher risk of irritation or infection. Gold |
| choices that you should stay away from. | | | | jewelry is beautiful, but should only be worn in |
| THE 3 BEST METALS FOR BODY JEWELRY: | | | | healed piercings, and with care. Replace gold body |
| #1 Implant Grade Titanium | | | | jewelry with titanium at the first sign of irritation. |
| Titanium is by far the metal of choice for body | | | | NOT RECOMMENDED: |
| piercing jewelry, and can be safely used for initial | | | | Sterling Silver: Do not purchase any body jewelry |
| piercings. Implant grade titanium G23 (Ti6al4v-ELI) | | | | where the part that threads under your skin |
| is the type of titanium used in surgical implants, is | | | | (barbell, banana, ring) is made of silver. Sterling |
| biocompatible, resistant to body fluids and nickel | | | | silver tarnishes when it comes in contact with |
| free. Titanium is also stronger and lighter than | | | | body fluids, can easily harbor bacterial growth, and |
| steel, which gives us body piercing jewelry that is | | | | can contain allergy-causing metals such as nickel. |
| both durable, comfortable and nearly without | | | | Body jewelry where a sterling silver "charm" that |
| scratches. Titanium is an expensive metal, but well | | | | is attached to or dangles from the end of the |
| worth the slightly higher price. Titanium body | | | | steel or titanium bar is perfectly fine, so long as |
| jewelry is beautiful, it lasts, and will look (just the | | | | you aren't allergic to silver jewelry. Just make |
| same after many years of wear. | | | | sure that the part that is inside your body is |
| #2 Surgical Stainless Steel | | | | made from a more biocompatible metal. |
| Stainless steel is the most common metal for | | | | Mystery Metal: Scary. Any "costume" or "plated" |
| body piercing jewelry, and is just behind titanium | | | | body jewelry is a bad idea, and so is poor quality |
| when it comes to biocompatibility. 316L or | | | | stainless steel. Stick with the top 3 choices above |
| 316LVM are the only two grades of stainless steel | | | | to be sure your piercing stays irritation and |
| that are considered safe for wearing in healed | | | | infection-free. |
| piercings. Keep in mind that even the best grades | | | | Remember that a body piercing jewelry is placed |
| of stainless steel do contain nickel and may cause | | | | inside you, and should be treated more like a |
| problems for those who are allergic to nickel. | | | | surgical implant than a piece of costume jewelry. |
| Some countries have banned the use of stainless | | | | Although it may be tempting to buy cheaper |
| steel for initial piercings, and it is best to steer | | | | body jewelry, spending a little more on higher |
| clear of stainless steel altogether until after your | | | | quality jewelry is definitely a better way to go in |
| piercing is completely. | | | | the long run. |