If you are looking for jewelry made of alternative materials, preferably non-metallic materials, you will come across Bioplast and Acrylic included on top of the lists of the safe materials used in jewelry making.
The reason for this is that these are man-made materials that are free of nickel and other allergens, and they are considered safer options for and by most people.
But what exactly are these materials, and should you choose them instead of the nickel-free materials?
What is Bioplast?
Bioplast, specifically BIoplast body jewelry, can be defined as the revolutionary and new type of material that is used in jewelry making. It is quite safe and flexible, metal-free, and very biocompatible.
But what exactly is this material? Well, Bioplast is a type of medical-grade material that is considered 100% safe for piercings, even the new, healing piercings.
The reason for this is that they are not just biocompatible and will not harm the body but also allow for sterilization in the autoclave, which is completely unheard of and impossible where the other kinds of normal plastic are concerned.
This version of plastic is, therefore, recommended for the new and the initial piercings. It also boasts an impressive level of flexibility.
And there’s more – Bioplast is actually a form of biodegradable plastic thanks to the fact that it is made of renewable sources, meaning it could be the best thing to help end the plastic scourge Earth is currently facing.
This revolutionary type of plastic is also considered a biobased polymer that is produced from renewable resources like corn starch, vegetable fats and oils, straw, sawdust, woodchips, and food waste, etc.
It may also be obtained from natural biopolymers like polysaccharides and even proteins, among others.
Bioplast is just like Bioflex, the other version of biodegradable and biocompatible plastic used in jewelry. Bioplast is made of materials that are biologically inert, and they wouldn’t initiate any kind of biological response or reaction when it comes in contact with body tissue.
And because this version of plastic can be sterilized, it prevents bacterial growth, and it also won’t harbor bacteria, meaning it will reduce inflammation while increasing the healing times.
Its use in jewelry is also recommended because it doesn’t have the tiny pores in normal plastic, steel, or acrylic, hence zero risk of infection from the Bioplast. It is also very flexible and ultra-smooth, meaning it will bend to natural body movements without hurting the healing piercing.
Is Bioplast safe for piercings?
Yes, Bioplast is not only safe for body piercings, but it’s now one of the materials recommended for body piercings, especially for persons who are allergic to nickel and other metals or just struggle with metal sensitivities.
Essentially, Bioplast is a biocompatible material that is sterilized before use, which means that it is the safest material for your piercings. The flexibility of the Bioplast also enhances its safety for the body piercings.
Pros and cons of bioplast
Pros
- It is very flexible and bends with your body seamlessly
- Safe on the skin thanks to being nickel-free, non-reactive, and biocompatible
- It can be sterilized in the high-temperature autoclave, and it’s also easy to clean thanks to it being non-stick
- It has no pores, and it doesn’t encourage the breeding of bacteria
- It doesn’t cause any irritation
- Reduces the swelling of piercings while also enhancing faster healing times for new piercings
- It’s the perfect piercing retainer
- Easily trimmed for the perfect fit
- Can be left in the piercing during MRI scans and also during hospital visits and dental work
- Also ideal for use in pregnancy, for instance, the pregnancy belly bar
- Bioplast jewelry is available in various stunning colors
- The tongue bars made of Bioplast will not attract any plaque.
- Perfect for oral piercings
Cons
- Not the best answer to marine pollution
- Mostly expensive compared to other types of plastics
What is acrylic?
Acrylic, also known as lucite, is considered the next best alternative material for body piercings after Bioplast and other skin-friendly materials. But what exactly is acrylic?
Acrylic is defined as the synthetic material available in multiple colors and a fairly safe kind of metal that makes jewelry. Some of the jewelry made of acrylic have ultra-violet properties, also called UV Acrylic, meaning that they come alive in color when they are exposed to UV light.
Acrylic is also a very versatile material. Unfortunately, it is not the ideal material for use with the new piercings, healing, or troublesome piercings because of the fact that acrylic contains micropores or microscopic pores, which makes this material a bad idea for unhealed piercings.
Essentially, the microscopic pores mean that the lymph released in the unhealed piercings will be trapped in these pores, and this could harbor bacteria.
The lymph in the pores will then dry out, and this forms a bond between your skin and the acrylic; and unfortunately, breaking that bond would be impossible, and if possible, it may harm your skin further. Therefore, we only recommend the use of acrylic with piercings that are fully healed.
Pros and cons of acrylic?
Pros
- Jewelry made of acrylic is quite cheap
- It’s a good alternative to the metallic jewelry
- Works best for healed and mature piercings, especially the type of acrylic known as PMMA acrylic
- It is lightweight and comfortable
- Many color options to choose from
- Different styles of acrylic used in jewelry
- There is dental acrylic that you can use for the healed tongue piercing
- Easy to clean – just use warm water and antibacterial soap
Cons
- The presence of micropores makes acrylic an inappropriate choice for new or unhealed piercings.
- Not suitable for use on the newly stretched piercings
- You cannot sterilize acrylic in an autoclave, boil in hot water, or leave in direct sunlight
- It is fragile
What’s the difference between Bioplast and acrylic?
Bioplast is biocompatible, very flexible, non-metallic, and is ideal for use in new, healing, and troublesome piercings, but acrylic, on the other hand, is unsafe for new piercings and cannot be considered to be a biocompatible material.
Bioplast vs. acrylic – Which one is better for piercing?
Thanks to its biocompatibility, its flexibility, and the absence of microscopic pores, Bioplast is a better option for piercings than acrylic. If anything, you shouldn’t use acrylic in new or unhealed piercings.
Conclusion
Bioplast and acrylic are great alternatives for metallic jewelry, especially for individuals who struggle with metal allergies.
But between the two, we recommend Bioplast because you can use it in new piercings, healing, and even troublesome piercings.
Read more piercing tips here or here!
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.