Q: I've never worn anything other than gold jewelry just because I've been told it's the safest. How do I know if I'm sensitive to other metals or if I have an allergy?

-Daya

A: The most common allergen used in metal is nickel. It’s generally found in more inexpensive jewelry items, particularly in steel jewelry. While gold is always lovely, available in multiple finishes, and clearly not an allergen for you, that doesn’t mean you can only wear gold jewelry. Rather than trying out items and seeing if you have an allergic reaction to them, your best bet is to stick with metals that carry little to no risk of allergy. The most common choice would be ASTM F-136 titanium (most commonly found at a piercer’s studio, the bit of alphabet soup would be found on the mill certificate) Niobium is another excellent choice for non-allergenic jewelry and both metals can be finished to a variety of different colors….even rainbow! Good luck!

 Q: I want to get some cartilage piercings in my ears. I already have my lobes done and have to wear hypoallergenic jewelry. Will my cartilage have allergy problems too? I have my navel pierced and can wear any kind of metal so I’m not sure where all the allergy extends to.

-Raine Boles

A: While we are not doctors or professional piercers, it stands to reason that if you have metal allergy issues in your earlobes, you’re likely to have them in your cartilage. This shouldn’t affect your jewelry options too much, however, as there are tons of styles available in ASTM F-136 titanium, which is medical implant grade. Niobium has also begun to take up a larger portion of the market in recent years and is also hypoallergenic. If you’re looking to splurge a bit, solid white and yellow gold look great in cartilage piercings and if you get threadless jewelry, the range of style options is virtually endless. Happy piercing!

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!