What is The Most Hypoallergenic Metal for Piercing? You’re ready to get a piercing. However, even with the excitement, you’re aware that you have sensitive skin, and not just anything will do.
A lot of people are waking up to the reality that not every material is good for the skin. The fantastic thing about that is people are seeking out resources to help them make the right choice; that’s why you’re here.
In this post, we’ll focus on what’s been proven to be by far the most hypoallergenic metals.
We’ll look at their basic properties, and why you should perhaps purchase an earring made from this metal for your next piercing. After, we’ll expound on the metals to avoid if you want a healed and healthy piercing.
The most hypoallergenic metal for piercing
It is mostly agreed that the most hypoallergenic metal for piercings is surgical stainless steel (SSS). Those that follow suit are Surgical implant titanium (Ti6A14V ELI), niobium, and Tygon. But first, let’s break down SSS.
Surgical Stainless Steel (SSS)- The most hypoallergenic metal
When getting a new body piercing, ensure that the metal for the jewelry has the word “surgical” before the “stainless steel.”
That’s because it gets used for body implants, proving that they typically don’t react with our body fluids. The most common kind you’ll find advertised for jewelry is 316L surgical stainless steel, where the L stands for low carbon.
Not commonly found is 316LVM, where the VM speaks of the vacuum it’s been produced in.
The only difference is that the latter has a smoother finish. Both these metals contain nickel, but the quantity is so low that it’s been approved by the medical practitioners.
Reactions of the same, even within the body are rare. If you were to react, it would have manifested on the jewelry that you already wear on top of your skin.
Pros and cons of Surgical Stainless steel
Let’s look at the merits and demerits of stainless steel
Pros
- Surgical Stainless steel is hypoallergenic
- Earrings and other body jewelry made from surgical stainless steel are affordable
- The metal is durable and not prone to scratches or tarnishing
Cons
- Though at low levels, surgical stainless steel jewelry still does contain nickel(very Low)
Here is a list of other Hypoallergenic Metals you can try
1.Surgical implant titanium, Ti6A14V ELI
Titanium is an expensive metal when it comes to jewelry, with the price going up if it is surgical grade. Even with its durability, it does contain some tiny amounts of nickel.
If you don’t have high sensitivity to nickel, then you’ll undoubtedly love the many colors that surgical implant titanium comes in.
2.Niobium
If you’re looking for something that hits the sweet spot in terms of pricing, then you can consider getting niobium.
It is more expensive than surgical stainless steel but less than titanium. Only ensure you get 99.9 percent niobium or ensure that it is a 999 stamp on it as it is a sign of purity.
It also comes in a lot of colors thanks to the electroplating process.
3.Tygon
If your skin is sensitive to metals, then you can opt for Tygon, which is a surgical plastic.
It’s the material that most clear piercings get made from, with it being endorsed by the community of professional piercers.
Tygon is also perfect if you want to get a piercing, but there are jewelry restrictions in the workplace or at school.
Metals and Materials to Avoid in New Body Piercings
The purpose of looking for hypoallergenic is that some metals tend to lengthen the recovery time of a new piercing.
When that happens, it increases the likelihood of an infection on the wound, which can lead to unfortunate skin problems that include scaring.
In essence, you don’t want anything that will react with your body tissue, whether through the absorption of fluids or depositing metal residue into the flesh.
The main one is Nickel
The primary metals to avoid is anything that has nickel because that’s the largest culprit of skin irritation and, consequently, skin problems.
One of the ways to know if you’re going to react to metal is by wearing inexpensive costume jewelry. If your skin turns black or green, then it is most certainly not suitable for freshly pierced skin. Not everyone’s skin is the same, but better safe than sorry.
Another metal to avoid for unhealed body piercings is sterling silver.
Most people assume that since it has silver, it is relatively safe. The metal has 92.5 percent silver, but the remaining percentage is made from other metals, typically copper.
While copper makes the metal durable, it is known to absorb into the skin. The other reason to steer clear is sterling silver is that it’s soft enough to starch, and the crevice can harbor bacteria.
What’s worse, when sterling silver is exposed to body fluids and tissue, it oxidizes. That forms tarnish, and the last thing you want in an open wound.
Plated jewelry might be attractive but beware.
The plating rubs off, and when exposed to liquids, it erodes, exposing the allergenic base metal. The result of the breakdown process automatically leads to irritation or infection.
If you have to get something with a layer of gold on top, get gold filled jewelry.
They have a thicker coat and take an upward of three years for the base metal to appear. It’s, however, still not advisable because a deep scratch can expose the flesh to properties making up the base metal.
If you’re opting for gold, only go for 14k or 18k gold.
Anything lower or higher is likely to contain unwanted metals in the alloy, such as nickel or form scratches that then trap bacteria, respectively.
Lastly, if the earring is made from bone, wood, or any other material that absorbs liquid, then that’s a huge no-no.
That’s only asking for prolonged healing time and inevitable infections.
Conclusion
Getting a new piercing is exciting, and it’s only made rewarding if it heals safely and in a healthy manner.
You, therefore, want to opt for jewelry that will do just that, and thankfully, we have some hypoallergenic materials that ensure that.
For more metals posts, please visit this page for more. We explained a lot for you guys. Most importantly, do not miss our latest posts here.
Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.