Yearly Archives - 2015

Body jewelry used for body piercing is based on a straight line, a type of barbell or a circle. Several people choose what is aesthetically appealing. The most common kind of ring jewelry worn is a captured bead ring, where the jewelry wire is bent nearly into a circle, and the two ends squeezed into an aptly-sized bead, holding it into place.

The curved barbell is capped with two beaded ends. It’s less of a circle than the captured bead ring and has free ends, one with a fixed close and one threaded for jewelry removal. Differences of curved barbells have been in use long enough to have their own names, including banana bar or an L-bar.

• The surfaces and ends of body jewelry must be free of nicks, scratches, burrs, and polishing compounds. Suitable pieces have no irregular surfaces that could endanger the delicate healing tissue of a fresh piercing. Metal body jewelry should be polished to a smooth, mirror finish. If you wear jewelry that has a porous or uneven surface, the new cells that form during healing grow into the irregularities. Then, when the jewelry shifts or moves, these areas tear. As this cycle is repeated, scar tissue forms and healing is delayed. A faulty finish can also introduce bacteria into the wound and cause infection.
• Quality rings are annealed, which is a heat treatment that makes the metal more pliable. When rings can be opened or closed without the use of pliers it reduces the risk of damaging the metal. For thicker rings (especially in smaller diameters) the use of tools may be necessary. Tools should have brass jaws or be covered with tape or gauze to protect the jewelry from damage.

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