Choosing the Right Jewelry

There is a wealth of information in the Jewelry section of the site, and although I cover some of it there, I thought some of it would benefit from further expansion. Possibly one of the most critical factors in the healing of a piercing is the correct jewelry. I don't know how to stress this enough , and often what is fashionable is not the best choice for a healing piercing. One of the keystones of piercing is to reduce your body's ability to reject the jewelry and to have jewelry that is as acceptable to the healing process as possible. A lot of factors go into choosing the correct jewelry, and it's the piercer's responsibility to determine what will work best based on the following:

• The anatomy of the client
• The location of the piercing
• The client's sensitivity to metals and materials
• What is the predicted amount of swelling?
• The security of the jewelry
• Which jewelry size, weight, and shape will be best to reduce stress or abuse to the piercing during the healing period of the piercing?

There are several factors that come into play when selecting the correct jewelry fit, based on my experience. Mainly, there are three that dictate the choice:

1. Shape or style of jewelry - The jewelry needs to fit into the natural shape of the piercing area and not put unnecessary stress on the piercing. Also reducing the likelihood of abuse to the piercing caused by catching on jewelry or other trauma.
2. Size - Room for swelling, allowing the piercing to discharge and for cleaning. Additionally, when selecting the size, it should be at least 1/8 inch larger than the thickness of the jewelry, and allow for approximately a 1/4 turn of the jewelry to be inside the piercing. Jewelry that is too "tight" increases the amount of tissue needed to heal the piercing, prolongs the healing time, and increases the likelihood of rejection or migration. Additionally, other problems can arise from the abuse of the jewelry, such as it being too tight, which can lead to scarring.
3. Weight - The jewelry should be as light as possible to minimize stress on the piercing.

Each piercing has different needs and concerns, so I've created sub-chapters that cover some of the most common piercings. Just click on the Links below: