Different Types of Body Jewelry

Body piercing is an art form that dates back as far as ancient history. The practice has its roots in ancient Greece and early Rome, when tattooing was used to mark affiliation with groups or specific individuals. Later, during the medieval era, body piercing became more of an art form, with various metals being used and even needles were used to puncture the skin for different effects. Today, body piercing is still a popular form of body art. It involves the use of jewelry made specifically for the piercing of the body. Body jewelry can be made from a wide range of materials, ranging from titanium to acrylic, gold to silver, stainless steel to body piercings themselves. The jewelry itself comes in a whole array of colors and designs, depending on what kind of material is used for its fabrication. Usually, jewelry made from body piercing metals is put through a variety of processes to make them as strong and durable as possible. Some of these processes include filling the metal with sulfur or copper powder, etching, drilling, and painting. Body jewelry that is solid and not hollowed out goes through a cooling process that seals it and helps it withstand high piercing pressures. Metal body piercings often require high-pressure air drills to drill through the piercing into the metal. Another type of body jewelry is earrings. Earrings are generally used as jewelry for the face, although they are also used on many parts of the body. Earrings are generally made of bangle-style barbells that are tightened to hold back the ends of the earring while it is being worn. Earrings have been around since ancient times, and they are popular today because they are easy to maintain, comfortable to wear, and they look good with most styles of dress. Nipple piercing also falls under the category of body jewelry. Nipple piercing both involve the use of barbells to pin the nipple and are usually done on younger girls. These piercings can be very painful, and they can sometimes bleed as a result of the piercing. These piercings are usually left in place until the wearer loses the sensitivity associated with them, or until they heal. The same is true for nipple rings, which must be worn for several months before they can be removed. Barbells, clamps, and other types of barbells are all used in jewelry that is called belly-button rings. Belly button rings usually have flat disks that screw on to the lower lobe of the ear, and barbells are inserted through the navel area. Because of the placement of these barbells, they tend to pull at the skin when the wearer moves around or bends over. Because this pull doesn’t really go away, it can cause irritation and, over time, even scarring. That’s why people who choose this particular piercing style often choose belly button rings that have a lower profile that hides the piercing and has more cushion for the wearer. Tragus piercing, or nostril piercing, is done by inserting the hole of the jewelry into the nostril. This piercing style involves the use of a thin metal ring that fits directly inside the nostril and clamps down over the cartilage. It is most often done on children because it is incredibly easy to remove — especially when done with a power to release the jewelry from the nostril instead of a pin. When done properly, there should not be any sensation of pain when the jewelry is placed inside of the nostril. Because of the extremely small incision that is required, however, it can take some time to heal and general healing time will vary widely.