The following metals should be avoided for jewelry placed in initial piercings:

• Brass
  Not recommended for piercings. Brass alloys vary widely and may cause irritations or negative reactions.

• Bronze
  Not recommended for piercings. Bronze alloys vary widely and may cause irritations or negative reactions.

• Cadmium
  Toxic and could be absorbed into the body.

• Copper
  Not recommended for piercings. Can be reactive.

• Costume Jewelry
  A significant amount of costume jewelry has been found to contain lead.

• Chromium
  Toxic and could be absorbed into the body.

• Fake Gold
  Avoid fake gold jewelry made from other base metals, since they could contain unknown base metal and may corrode when exposed to body fluids.

• Gold Filled
  Could contain unknown base metals.

• Gold Plated
  Avoid plated jewelry because the plating can rub off and expose an underlying metal that reacts with your body.

• 24k Gold
  This highest grade gold is generally too soft for jewelery, will be easily damaged, and not last long.

• Iron
  Not recommended for piercings. Can be reactive.

• Lead
  Risk of lead poisoning. Especially dangerous for young children.

• Nickel
  Avoid jewelry that contains nickel which is known to cause allergic reactions in many people. Some European countries have regulated piercing jewelery and now require it be less than 0.05% nickel.

• Non-Stainless Steel
  Not recommended for piercings. Use surgical implant grade stainless steel. Also avoid steel claiming to be "surgical steel" which is not verified as "implant grade surgical steel".

• Pewter
  Not recommended for piercings. Many pewter alloys contain lead.

• Sterling Silver / Silver
  Sterling silver oxidizes when it contacts body tissues and fluids. Silver jewelery can often be safely worn in healed piercings, but should never be worn in initial unhealed piercings.

• Tin
  Tin contain trace amounts of lead.

• Zinc
  Not recommended for piercings. Can be reactive.

Safe Metals for Body Piercing