Piercing Materials

A range of piercing materials are used to create body jewellery and ensure that all piercings are comfortable to wear as well as safe for the body. The UK and EU impose strict measures to this effect for the safety of those who love body modification and this can affect piercers on a global basis. Some piercing materials are suitable for a huge range of piercings, whereas others are used for a select few piercings rather than in general. Each material will have its pluses and its negatives, as well as creating a range of different styles and appearances that you may wish to experiment with, especially with the more exotic form of body jewellery.

The EU recently imposed more rigorous measures with regards to healing piercings, severely restricting the amount of nickel that a piercing material can contain in order for it to be deemed appropriate for using in a new piercing. This has made titanium the preferred material for initial piercings due to their almost non-existent amount of nickel, comparatively with surgical steel which has a slightly higher content.

Titanium

The preferred piercing material in recent years due to its low nickel content, titanium is also incredibly non-reactive, making it less likely to react with human bodily fluids. It is also lightweight when compared to surgical steel, which is a plus for those who wear several piercings in the same area. Another plus of titanium is that it can be treated to produce a range of colours, such as blue, green, purple and even rainbow, allowing for a greater range of styles.

Surgical Steel

The most common piercing material in America, surgical steel is no longer the preferred choice within Europe but is still incredibly popular. An attractive shiny appearance makes this a popular choice for body jewellery and allergic reactions are rare. Surgical steel is a heavier piercing material than titanium, so for those who have several body modifications in one area (such as an earlobe) this might cause discomfort or stretching in the case of heavier jewellery. Surgical steel is also reactive to temperature, which means that in very hot or very cold conditions the entire piercing will either grow hot or cold. This may cause discomfort to your body modification (particularly if the piercing is somewhere sensitive such as a nipple etc.).

Plastic

Plastic or acrylic body jewellery can be constructed for a wide range of piercings. Clear retainers are helpful in allowing piercings to appear more subtle, helpful in the cases of work or school, and are also more flexible than metal body jewellery. With many cartilage piercings or body modifications, an extended period of healing that is far above the norm may be helped by changing to a plastic variant of the piercing. Acrylic body jewellery is virtually inert and won’t react with the body at all. A popular choice for tapers and flesh plus, this body jewellery is lightweight and capable of being printed upon to create a whole range of unique designs. A downside is that microscopic ‘pores’ in the plastic will collect bodily fluids, meaning that you’ll need to wash the piercing and the body jewellery more often.

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