A Metal Guide for Body Piercings

After getting a body piercing, most people are keen to choose a piece of jewelry that reflects their personality and style. For wholesale body jewelry resellers, it’s important to stock only safe metals to ensure repeat custom and look out for those we serve.

Choosing the right metal for body piercings is crucial then. While some metals are perfectly safe, not all are. Choosing the wrong metal can even result in infections, unwanted scarring, and even loss of skin tissue.

To avoid these problems and keep body piercings looking their very best, we’ve put together a short guide below.

The body’s reaction to metals

Ultimately, piercing involves placing effectively a foreign object through our skin or other body tissue. While this practice has been going on for thousands of years, that’s not to say it doesn’t carry some risks.

One of the most common problems is dermatitis and other allergic reactions to some materials such as nickel in body jewelry. Metal allergies are quite common and don’t just affect the hypersensitive among us.

In fact, metal allergies are unique in that they can often develop over time as a result of long exposure. So, while someone may not have a reaction to low-grade jewelry to begin with, they may develop skin irritation and worse later on.

It’s important then to only use metals known to be biologically neutral with low quantities of nickel and other known allergens.

Best metals for body piercings

Below, you’ll find the best metals for body jewelry. These biocompatible metals are known to not react with skin and be safe to wear day-in, day-out.

Stainless steel

Surgical-grade stainless steel body jewelry is perhaps the most popular choice as it retains the highly-polished look of metals like silver or platinum but at a much lower cost. It is used by the body jewelry industry due to it being both hypoallergenic and extremely durable.

There are different kinds of stainless steel available with 316L being one of the most widely used for jewelry. This contains a lower amount of carbon making it especially non-corrosive and strong.

While safe to use by the vast majority of people, stainless steel does contain some small amounts of nickel. This means it can react with the skin of hypersensitive allergy sufferers.

Gold

Gold is also suitable to be used as body jewelry. Body jewelry pieces like the 14k gold labret being chosen for the metal being inert, causing no bodily reaction. Gold is one of the most stable elements and this makes it perfect for new piercings. It does not degrade or corrode over time and can safely withstand exposure to moisture.

While it does cost more, a quality gold body jewelry piece is easily identified as high-quality. It’s important to avoid pure 24k gold, however as this can be too soft for internal use.

Gold PVD

Also known as Aztec Gold, Gold PVD gives the rich golden color of the precious metal but with the durability of modern materials. PVD stand for “physical vapor deposition” and refers to the process of vacuum plating process involved.

Gold PVD is typically applied to more durable materials like surgical steel or titanium to give biological neutrality and aesthetic surface qualities while also enjoying enhanced durability.

Platinum

Another precious metal notable for being non-reactive is platinum. Luxury body jewelry made from platinum gives the wearer peace of mind that they won’t discover discoloration or skin irritation. It is considered a safe and high-quality choice for body jewelry.

The biggest problem with platinum, however, is its price. Platinum body jewelry is many times more expensive than pieces made from titanium or stainless steel. It can often be hard to distinguish the difference between these metals when using quality alternative wholesale body jewelry products.

Titanium

As an alloy, Titanium is lightweight, strong, and versatile. It is a modern material that is capable of being turned into beautiful body jewelry that can be worn externally and internally.

Particularly, titanium is more water-resistant than most metals. With moisture one of the biggest causes of reactions, this means titanium is a great choice for those with a new piercing or those suffering from skin sensitivity.

With a high ratio between strength and density, titanium body jewelry pieces are lightweight enough to wear for extended periods without discomfort. Be sure to look for Grade 23 titanium for ultimate durability. And, with no nickel content, has a slight edge over stainless steel in terms of biocompatibility.

Niobium

While niobium is a soft and malleable metal, it is still considered a safe material for body jewelry. In its pure form, it is a shiny gray-white metal that has an oxidized layer on its surface. It’s this layer that makes it suitable for body jewelry, protecting skin and keeping the piece looking good.

Niobium is often compared to titanium due to its color and suitability for body jewelry. As a non-alloy, however, niobium body jewelry is typically more expensive.

It’s important to avoid alloyed niobium products as these do not possess the same qualities as the original.

Metals to avoid for body piercings

While pure silver is an option for those that can afford it, sterling silver should be avoided for body jewelry. This is because the copper content of 925 silver can discolor skin and tarnish the piece itself. This can affect the healing process and potentially lead to infection.

Another metal to avoid stocking or using is iron. While iron can be turned into beautiful bracelets and adornment pieces, it is unsuitable for piercings. The moisture of the skin causes it to oxidize and rust, leading to painful skin and worse.

Verdict

While there are other metals and non-metal materials out there to use for body jewelry, these are considered the best by manufacturers and suppliers. Wearers of body jewelry look to these metals time and time again for their appearance and their biocompatibility.

For a wide selection of body jewelry made from biocompatible metals, check out Salamander Jewelry. With low minimum orders, outstanding customer service, and fast shipping, Salamander Jewelry is a leading provider of wholesale body jewelry for resellers, collectors, and more.

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