Externally threaded, internally threaded, threadless: why is the difference so important?
In piercing body jewelry, there are different types of mechanism to assemble a piece of jewelry. There’s the externally threaded, the internally threaded and the threadless jewelry. They’re all different, but they’re not all adequate for an initial piercing. So now, why is it so important to know about these differences and what do they change in the healing process of a piercing?
First of all, it’s important to choose a jewelry that is adequate for a fresh piercing to limit any complications, such as allergic reactions to the metal or irritation due to the polishing finish of the jewelry. Generally, internally threaded or threadless jewelry are what’s best:
Source : www.safepiercing.com
As you can see, the internally threaded piece of jewelry, or threadless, offers a smooth transition without any excess trauma with the help of an insertion taper. What is internally threaded means the screwing pattern is on the inside of the labret post and on the bead end, whereas threadless jewelry doesn’t have any. It’s more of a press-fit by curving a threadless pin on the bead end that clips in when inserted in the labret post. Moreover, there is a mirror finish polishing which takes out any residues of machinery, compounds or micro-imperfection which can harbor lots of bacteria. It also limits the irritation and trauma that occurs after a piercing.
As for externally threaded jewelry, the sharp threading pattern is on the outside of the labret post. It can cause severe irritation or simply harm a piercing every time it’s put in and taken out of the fistula (tunnel). With the threading being exposed, it can harbor a lot of bacteria by passing through several layers of skin as well as accumulating debris, which can make the jewelry hard to take out after a few months. As we can see on the picture, the finish of the jewelry is a lot rougher compared to the internally threaded one, and those imperfections can trap bacteria and cause irritation.
Therefore, it is not advised to use an externally threaded piece of jewelry, specially considering the fact that their quality is often questionable. Some piercers who don’t push their researches will claim that “surgical steel” is hypoallergenic and 100% safe while it is not the case at all. For more information on that topic, we invite you to read the blog about safe materials for initial piercings.