You rarely worry about a certain piece of jewelry you are sporting causing an adverse reaction on your body unless it is an allergic one. In the case of body piercing, this worry could be warranted. Body jewelry is very different from your standard rings, necklaces and bracelets. For one you are actually piercing your body with a foreign object, creating a wound and an opening and then inserting another object inside it. While preparing your body for such a wound, you need to ensure that the implements and the components being used are of the highest quality and won’t cause undue stress; at least, more than justified.
Ensure Your Piercing Is in a Sterile Environment
The only way to ensure your wound or piercing does not get infected is by confirming the use of safest elements on it. Moreover it should be done at a certified body piercing studio with qualified piercers. Every self-respecting piercer understands importance of utilizing only authentic instruments and 100% safe jewelry. Even these are auto-claved (sterilized) before every procedure. Gloves and anti-bacterial solutions ensure that no infections are transferred as the piercing is carried out. The initial body jewelry needs to be the safest as your body takes time to heal. Once the healing process is complete you can then switch to the different styles and designs that are available in the market.
Choosing the Right Body Jewelry
The initial body jewelry that is used immediately after creating the hole needs to be smooth, with absolutely no scratches or grooves. The reason for extreme care while selecting jewelry after the first piercing is that when the body heals, new tissues grow in and around the metal, making it difficult for the new skin to breathe if the fit is too tight. Certain metals are harmless when used with the body like steel, titanium, niobium, platinum or gold. Surgical steel is by far the most favorite of all. These are sterilized before they are used by piercers who have a supply of various pieces available with them, from which you can choose.
Life after Piercing
Other metals like nickel and platinum, glass and even biocompatible polymers are used in the body jewelry segment. After 3-6 months of the piercing you are free to choose whatever you want and display it proudly. Other entrants in the world of body jewelry like acrylics, PTFE and even gems and gemstones are also widely used. Many of these can be auto-claved which means they can be considered as the first jewelry to be inserted while the wound heals. Piercers can help and advise you on the proper procedures to be followed as well as the dos and don’ts.
