You are planning on a new piercing or walked out of a piercing studio moments ago. You may be wondering if you can wear your favorite gold or silver jewelry right away. While both metals are popular, they’re not always the safest choice for fresh piercings. We explain everything in our Piercing 101 guide.
Is Gold Safe for New Piercings?
Short answer: Only if it is the right kind of gold. To be safe for new piercings, gold jewelry should meet the following criteria:
- It has to be at least 14K gold. 18K is also acceptable. Higher karat gold (like 22k or 24k) is too soft and prone to scratching and is rarely used for body jewelry that is designed for long-term wear.
- It has to be nickel-free. Nickel is an allergen commonly mixed with gold alloys and should be avoided. A reputable seller is obligated to provide chemical analysis reports that will indicate if the alloy contains nickel or other allergens.
- It should not be gold plated. Even when produced with top notch materials and alloys, platings on body jewelry might get scratched and flake due to normal wear and tear. While the issue is very minimal, it might cause irritation on a fresh piercing and is best to be avoided.
- It has to be polished. Choose body jewelry that has a "high polish" finish to ensure the smoothest surface possible in order to minimize irritation during healing.
The key is to look for ASTM or ISO-certified 14k or 18k solid gold specifically approved for body piercings.
Is Silver Safe for New Piercings?
Short answer: No. While sterling silver (92.5% pure) is common in fashion jewelry, it has some major downsides when it comes to wearing it in piercings:
- It's not implant-grade. Silver is not approved for use in new or healing piercings by professional standards.
- It tarnishes easily. Silver can tarnish with normal wear, natural oils produced by the skin and sweat, making it look dull and discoloured.
- It has a porous surface that can harbor bacteria and slow down healing.
- It may cause argyria! In some cases, long-term exposure to silver (especially in a healing piercing) can lead to argyria, a condition that causes the skin to develop a blue or grey tint due to silver particle buildup in the tissues. You don't want to walk around with grey patches on your ears or belly button.
You should save silver for completely, fully healed piercings, but still be mindful of the allergens that may be included in the metal alloy and remove it at the first sign of irritation.
So, What Materials Are Best for New Piercings?
These are the top materials for safe, fast healing.
- Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136): Hypoallergenic, biocompatible, and certified for use in medical implants.
- Niobium: Similar to titanium (not yet implant-grade certified) and safe for sensitive skin.
- 14k or 18k solid gold (nickel-free): When verified to meet safety standards.
It's best to avoid any jewelry made of surgical steel, which typically contains nickel, acrylic or plastic, and sterling silver (for new piercings). For the safest and most comfortable healing, consider implant-grade titanium jewelry as your first choice.
Still have questions or would like to add onto the conversation? Leave a comment below.