The anomaly’s of black holes have plagued the scientific community for centuries. Similarly, the bizarre occurrence of a black/green/discoloured piercing hole has our clients and community equally stumped. While we can’t speak too much on quantum physics, what we can do is offer our clientele some insight into the age old question; WHY HAS MY PIERCING HOLE SUDDENLY TURNED BLACK?
The most common reason for the black or green staining left on our skin has to do with the type of metal your jewellery is made with. Alloy metals such as copper, nickel and sterling silver often tarnish quickly and are susceptible to erosion. In the case of a green discolouration, this is often a product of copper reacting with your bodies natural oils, sweat and even skin care products. This green discolouration is attributed to tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes of copper, this is chelated copper which does not absorb into the skin, rather stays behind and leaves a stain.
Black discolouration is also a product of a similar chemical reaction. Much like with copper jewellery, sterling silver is often the culprit of a black stain on skin. The corrosion of the metal due to exposure to moisture, oils and chemicals causes a chemical reaction which stains the jewellery. While our jewellery becomes discoloured, the skin around it begins to stain as well.
The type of metal you use could be interfering with your skin’s natural PH as it is not completely bio-safe and hypoallergenic. We recommend sticking to medical grade, bio-safe and most importantly hypoallergenic metal options. These include implant grade Titanium, 14ct Nickel free Solid Gold and implant grade 316L Surgical, all of which are hypoallergenic as well as has greater longevity (no need to buy a new pair when the old ones turn green!). Typically, for the client that does disclose their skin sensitivities, we suggest sticking to titanium.
Redness is another sort of discolouration of the skin clients may experience. However, unlike in the case of chemical reactions between jewellery and external factors, redness is often a result of ones body/skin being incompatible with certain metals. While the average person may experience staining from poor quality jewellery, clients with sensitive skin, allergies or even slightly higher (more acidic) skin PH levels, might notice the presence of redness accompanied with itching. This is due to an allergy or adverse immune response to certain metals or the products used to insulate them. In this case, it is not merely enough to consistently remove the jewellery, clean it regularly and ensure it comes into contact with minimal moisture. Clients who present with this type of skin discolouration are always advised to steer clear ENTIRELY of ‘costume jewellery’ and stick to bio-safe/hypoallergenic metals such as titanium and 14k nickel free solid gold.
But I have a good quality piece of jewellery in my piercing and I am STILL experiencing irritation/discolouration?! Again, this boils down to science, not just of the body and metals, but of the everyday products we use on our skin. If it’s not the jewellery it could be that your gem/jewellery is reacting with the products (such as creams, body oils, perfumes, serums etc) we use on our body. It is important to remember that even the highest quality metals are susceptible to damage due to harsh cleansers, chemicals in make-up and even the PH of certain water.
What we suggest is, when applying products remove your jewellery and allow your product to absorb into the skin. In the case of fresh piercings or when jewellery cannot be removed, we suggest keeping the contact of your jewellery and products to a minimal.Similrly, sometimes a jewel (particularly clear jewels) can become discoloured when skin care products begin to build up around/underneath them. This is why we tell our clients that even once a piercing is healed, you maintain the cleaning procedures recommended in the beginning of your piercing journey. Which means the gentler the better and consistency is key!
