Those with hypersensitivity issues should use titanium instead of Surgical Steel. Also, titanium is a preferred material for initial piercings, though it's not mandatory: most people do well with medical-grade Surgical Steel even for initial jewelry. If you have hypersensitivity problems, however, you should try titanium instead. Titanium offers another advantage: it is lightweight so it's more comfortable. It can also be anodized to produce many vibrant colors. Unfortunately, it is also more expensive material. Titanium is a body-friendly material because it's an elemental metal – it doesn't contain nickel. While certain grades do contain a small percentage of alloys, those are low and, most important, biocompatible. This is why titanium is a perfect choice for people with hypersensitivity. The most popular and body-friendly is grade 23 titanium. This is a great body jewelry material.