How does internally threaded jewelry work

Internally threaded jewelry avoids any possibility of scraping your tissue with sharp threads, which is especially important with fresh piercings.

Externally threaded jewelry is much more susceptible to irritation and infection: "Those threads are like little, tiny knives," notes Keith Thompson.

And later, when you take it in and out, it can cause cutting, scraping, and inflammation. If you have externally threaded body jewelry, it should only be used on well-healed piercings. If the piercing isn't healed, you may be risking all kinds of nasty bumps aka keloids with even nastier stuff inside them. While classic piercings are often the first thing to come in mind, the APP points out that steering clear of externally threaded jewelry is especially important during the stretching, or gauging, process, as the sharp ridges of the jewelry can tear and irritate the healing tissue inside your piercing.

Internally threaded jewelry is a much safer option but, with any piercing , you still could run into trouble—particularly if you have an allergy to a specific type of metal. The easiest way to prevent infection or an allergic reaction is to research your piercer, says Johnson.

Internally threaded body jewelry does, admittedly, cost more. Novelty stores and mall shops hello, Hot Topic often sell body jewelry for less because the quality is much lower, and the jewelry sold by stores and kiosks like these should never be used in an unhealed piercing. High-quality jewelry from reputable shops physical or online will ultimately cost you much less in regards to your health, which is something you can't put a price tag on.

While internally threaded jewelry is better for new piercings , it's worth noting that fresh piercings can still get inflamed: "You want to follow correct aftercare, using sterile saline wound wash is the best and healthiest way to keep your piercing clean," says Johnson.

Sterile saline wound wash is the only thing you need to keep your piercing happy and healthy. Aftercare continues, notes Johnson, even after the swelling minimizes. When it comes to drying your internally threaded piercing, the APP says that you should only ever use disposable paper products, as reusable cloths can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

In addition to regularly spritzing and drying your new piercing, be sure to wash your hands regularly so that you never touch it or any piercings for that matter with dirty, bacteria-ridden fingers. If you're planning on getting a new piercing anytime soon, make sure that the studio you visit utilizes internally threaded jewelry. While it's an APP standard, you'd be surprised by the number of shops that don't comply. Additionally, when you feel like switching out your jewelry, make sure to, again, look for internal threads.

If you can't find any that truly fit your fancy, feel free to take a risk with external threads—just always remember that new piercings call for internals at all times. Association of Professional Piercers. Jewelry for initial piercings. Stretching your piercing. Everything Else. Eyebrow Rings. Fake Body Jewelry. Lip Rings. Nipple Rings. Nose Rings. Replacement Parts. Tongue Rings. Ear Stretching Kits. Eyebrow Ring. Lip Ring.

Nose Ring. Replacement Ball. Spiral Twister. Captive Bead Rings. Replacement Balls. Spiral Rings. Tongue Ring. Wood Christmas Ornaments. Dermal Anchors. Dermal Anchor Tops. Skin Divers. Create Your Own. Chain Link. Glow In the Dark. Hypoallergenic Nickel Free. Picture - Sports. Stainless Steel. Young Girl's.

Back Belly Chains. Clip on Rings. Fake Plugs. Fake Septum Piercing. Fall Jewelry. Mardi Gras. Mother's Day. St Patrick's Day. Valentine's Day. Intimate Piercings. Captive Rings. Internally Threaded. Lippy Loop.

Push In. Ash Holder. College Team. Create Your Own Necklace. Dog Tags. Handcrafted Necklaces. All Necklaces. Add your own Charm Belly Rings. Rubber O-Rings. Pregnancy Belly. It can include things like captive rings, certain labret studs, hinged rings, hoop earrings, and more. Threaded jewelry has an end ball, also called the decorative end or the post, that screws on and off. It includes straight barbells, curved barbells, circular barbells, and all other kinds of barbells that have screw-on ends.

When we talk about threaded jewelry, there are two patterns you can choose from: internally or externally threaded. Externally threaded jewelry is commonly seen among barbell-style body jewelry. In this type of jewelry, the screw pattern goes through the piercing, and then the ball end is screwed into its place. So, the shaft that passes through the piercing is smooth. The ball is inserted onto it and screwed into place. Internally threaded body jewelry definitely has an advantage over externally threaded jewelry.

With an external thread pattern, the coarse threads have to pass through the piercing when inserting or removing the jewelry. Not to mention, these exposed threads can collect bacteria as they pass through the piercing, which then stays in contact with the skin.