Body jewelry is more than an accessory—it’s something worn in your skin, often 24/7. Whether you have ear piercings, a belly ring, nose jewelry, or dermal pieces, proper care keeps both your jewelry and your piercings healthy and looking their best.
Here’s a simple, practical guide to caring for your body jewelry.
1. Clean Your Body Jewelry Regularly
Even in healed piercings, oils, skin cells, makeup, and sweat can build up on jewelry.
How to Clean Body Jewelry
✔ For metal jewelry (titanium, surgical steel, gold):
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Wash with warm water and mild, fragrance-free soap
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Rinse thoroughly
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Pat dry with a clean paper towel
✔ For acrylic, silicone, or polymer jewelry:
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Use warm water only
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Avoid alcohol or harsh soaps—they can crack or warp the material
✔ For threaded jewelry:
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Unscrew the ends and clean all parts individually
Never boil jewelry or use harsh chemicals like bleach.
2. Store Jewelry Properly
Good storage protects jewelry from scratches, tarnishing, and contamination.
Best storage tips
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Keep jewelry in clean, separate compartments
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Use a soft-lined box or small plastic bags
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Avoid humidity (store away from bathrooms)
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Keep pairs together to avoid losing tiny pieces
If you rotate jewelry often, a small daily-use organizer makes life easier.
3. Avoid Wearing Cheap or Damaged Jewelry
Fashion jewelry may be trendy, but it’s often unsafe for long-term contact with skin.
Avoid wearing jewelry that:
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Has flaking coating
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Has tarnished or greenish areas
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Feels rough or has sharp edges
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Causes itching or redness
Damaged jewelry can irritate the piercing and lead to infections.
4. Remove Jewelry Before Certain Activities
Your jewelry can get caught, pulled, or contaminated during certain activities.
Remove or protect jewelry when:
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Swimming in pools, lakes, or the ocean
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Playing contact sports
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Using tanning beds or getting sunburnt
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Applying lotions, sprays, or makeup
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Sleeping on fresh piercings
For healed piercings, wearing a soft retainer during sports can help.
5. Choose High-Quality Materials
Good materials are easier to care for and safer for your skin.
Best materials for body jewelry:
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Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F136)
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Implant-grade stainless steel (ASTM F138)
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Niobium
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Biocompatible glass
Quality jewelry reduces irritation, infection risks, and discoloration.
6. Check Your Jewelry Regularly
Jewelry can loosen over time, especially threaded balls or clickers.
Do a quick check every few days:
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Ensure threaded ends are tight
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Make sure clicker rings close securely
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Look for cracks or chips in acrylic or silicone
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Check chains or dangles for weak links
This prevents accidental loss or irritation.
7. Know How to Handle Tarnish
Even high-quality metals can develop tarnish over time (especially silver).
Safe ways to remove tarnish
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Use a soft polishing cloth
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Use gentle jewelry-cleaning products designed for body-safe metals
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Avoid toothpaste—it’s too abrasive
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Never soak jewelry that has gems, opals, or glued stones
If in doubt, ask a professional piercer how to clean specialty pieces.
8. Rotate Jewelry Only After Healing
Changing jewelry too early can delay healing or trap bacteria.
✔ Fresh piercings: wait until your piercer says it’s safe
✔ Healed piercings: you can switch jewelry anytime—just clean thoroughly before inserting
With the right cleaning routine, storage habits, and high-quality materials, your jewelry will last longer—and so will your piercings.
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