Q: I’ve heard some people have bad reactions to stainless steel jewelry. How do I know if it’s safe for my skin? -Gia
A: The issue isn’t stainless steel so much as it’s the nickel that can be found in it in trace amounts. Some people are very allergic to nickel, which is why they should avoid stainless steel. Have you ever had a reaction to inexpensive jewelry? A ring or maybe a pair of earrings? If you’ve never had a problem before, you’re probably not allergic to nickel. (Be forewarned, one can develop such an allergy at any point, frequently under times of stress.) If you don’t have skin that’s sensitive to nickel, there’s no reason why you can’t try out some stainless steel jewelry. Titanium was not anywhere near as common or easy to find back in the day and stainless steel was very common for body jewelry. If you’re really concerned about a reaction, buy a cheap stainless steel ring and wear it for a day or two. Happy shopping and good luck!
Q: I’ve had my nostril pierced for a while but now it's kinda irritated. Should I switch the jewelry or just give it more time to heal? -Max
A: The best way to get rid of irritation is to figure out what’s causing it. Did you snag your piercing on something? Did you recently change the jewelry? If it’s still healing, have you been lax in your aftercare? If none of this applies and there truly seems to be no cause for the irritation, the best thing you can do is go to a trusted piercer and have them take a look. A piercing that was done at a slightly imperfect angle or jewelry that isn’t ideal for healing or is even just not a great fit for your nose can all cause those bumps and red spots that we hate to see. If your piercing is still healing, this could just be a bit of a hiccup on the way. Don’t change the jewelry, make sure you’re doing proper aftercare, and see a piercer if it doesn’t improve. Best of luck!
Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. Always consult a professional piercer to make sure a new piercing is right for you!
