Materials for Piercings and Body Jewelry

Not all materials are suitable for making jewelry. Even fewer materials are suitable for piercings and body jewelry. Here's a look at the materials that are used and the reasons why they are biocompatible. I'll also list some materials you shouldn't use for making body jewelry and explain the potential problems the use of such materials could cause. On this page, I'll look at some of the general factors that need to be considered when choosing a material. On additional pages (coming soon) we'll look at the specific materials. I've broken the materials into groups, to make the list easier to manage:

• metals (e.g., steel, titanium)
• manmade non-metals (e.g., acrylic, glass)
• natural materials (e.g., ivory, wood)

Important Considerations

• Non-Porous

  Porous surfaces provide places for bacteria to attach. For that matter, a porous surface provides a place for the body's own tissues to attach, which can result in problems. Nicks and scratches may also cause physical injury to tissue. Some materials can be sealed or polished to provide a smooth surface.

• Non-Reactive

  This isn't the same thing as non-toxic. For example, chromium, which is toxic, is used in making stainless steel. The chromium reacts with oxygen to form a non-reactive barrier, which prevents a reaction between the body's immune system and the nickel and certain other components of the alloy. Be advised: not all stainless steel is 'surgical stainless steel'! Pure gold, titanium, silver, platinum, palladium, and niobium are also non-reactws n cause reactions.

• Suitable Weight

  Some materials may be non-porous and non-reactive, yet may not be suitable for certain types of body jewelry because the materials are too heavy. For example, platinum is a fairly inert metal, yet it is very heavy, so you wouldn't want to use it for very large pieces (plus it's quite expensive!).

• Doesn't Break/Fracture or Breaks Cleanly

  No one want to get slivers of wood or metal in their body, much less shards of glass. However, certain woods, metals, plastics, and glasses are either unlikely to break or will break cleanly. Sometimes this is a characteristic of the material; sometimes special treatments are required. Borosilicate glass (e.g., Pyrex) will break cleanly and is used for body jewelry, while a glass that splinters (e.g., Corelle) would be unsuitable. Annealed metals are used more for body jewelry than those that have been work hardened to 'spring' or 'full hard'. Hardening forms a structure within a metal which makes it more brittle and more likely to break.

• Capable of Being Sterilized or Disinfected

  The material must be able to withstand chemical or heat disinfection. Ideally, the substance should be able to withstand treatment in an autoclave, which kills spores as well as active pathogens. Some materials, such as acrylic, cannot be autoclaved, yet can be disinfected using certain chemicals. Disinfection is not the same as sterilization. Materials that cannot be sterilized (e.g., acrylic, bone, wood) may not be suitable for longterm wear as body jewelry. For hygienic reasons, pieces made from these materials should be worn by a single person only.

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