Have you ever worried if using your sex toy on your body was safe after taking a closer look at it? Perhaps the fact that it was composed of “body-safe silicone” gave you comfort.
However, what precisely is body-safe silicone? Is it typical? Not harmful? When using a butt plug, dildo, or vibrator, what are you putting on (and in) your body, and why is it so crucial to select body-safe products? Come along as we address these and many more!
How Does Silicone Work?
An elastomer, or man-made material that returns to its original shape without stretching, is the silicone used in sex toys. Silicone, also referred to as silicone rubber, is derived from silicon, a naturally occurring element, along with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Initially, silicone rubber is a liquid or gel that is cured to form a solid, or in this instance, a vibrator or dildo. You can find cured silicone rubber in everything from tires to menstruation cups. The spoon you have in your drawer? Most likely silicone rubber. The elastic in your underpants is the same.
Because silicone rubber resists heat and moisture, two elements that are abundant during sexual activity and which may easily degrade materials like plastic and natural rubber, silicone rubber is employed in an enormous range of items.
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How is cured silicone?
There are two typical ways to cure silicone: addition or condensation. In order to convert silicone from a liquid to a solid, a chemical catalyst must be added in both cases. Platinum is frequently used as a catalyst in the addition process to produce silicone that is incredibly heat resistant.
If the term “platinum-cured” makes you happy, it’s probably because a lot of excellent dildos are made of silicone that has undergone platinum curing. Most likely, your dildo is composed of silicone that has been platinum-cured if the cleaning instructions state that it can be cooked.
Platinum curing silicone increases its strength and enhances its clarity and consistency. This makes it possible for many of the deep, striking colors, intricate textures, and perfectly formed designs found in silicone sex toys that have been platinum-cured.
The drawbacks of this kind of curing? Cost. Since platinum curing is a more expensive process, toys manufactured of this material, including dildos, are typically more expensive than those made of other materials, even those deemed to be “body-safe.”
Check out Can I Boil My Sex Toys for additional information on boiling silicone and other materials.
Medical Grade Silicone: What Is It?
When medical grade silicone comes into touch with the human body, it won’t trigger any harmful or immunological reactions because it is biocompatible. Medical grade silicone is typically platinum-cured and found in a variety of items, including water pipes, medical gadgets, and infant bottle nipples.
Because it is hypoallergenic, inert (meaning it won’t change or degrade), and free of latex and toxins, this kind of silicone works well as a material for sex toys.
The FDA has tested and approved medical grade silicone as safe for internal body wear. It is present in a lot of butt plugs and other erotic items made for prolonged internal wear. That cozy plug you adore so much? You understand. silicone of medical quality.
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What Constitutes Body-Safe Silicone?
Now that you are more knowledgeable about silicone, let’s discuss what makes it safe for human use. High-quality sex toys are made of silicone, which is superior to less costly materials like plastic and jelly rubber because of a few unique features. This is the reason it can withstand all types of play:
It isn’t permeable.
Body-safe silicone is impermeable to liquids and air because it is totally non-porous. This is significant because harmful or dangerous substances like mold, germs, and viruses are not absorbed by non-porous materials.
Porous materials, such as TPE and PVC, have the potential to grow an odor, host microorganisms, or even induce diseases such as UTIs when used internally. Washing won’t help, either. It is impossible to fully remove small particles of lubricant or human fluids from a porous toy after they have been absorbed. To understand the situation, consider how grout, which is also a porous substance, gets stained by mold.
Even though your sex toy is non-porous, bacteria can nevertheless accumulate on its surface.Wash your toys in water with a little soap or using a toy cleaner to keep them clean.
