Pearls are used for far more than jewelry. While necklaces, earrings, and rings remain their most familiar role, pearls and pearl powder have a long history in traditional medicine, a growing presence in skincare, and a surprising future in materials science and bone repair. Here’s a closer look at each of these uses.
Jewelry and Gemstones
The most widespread use of pearls is in jewelry. Natural and cultured pearls are graded on seven quality factors: size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and how well multiple pearls match in a single piece. South Sea cultured pearls are especially prized for their large size, while Akoya, Tahitian, and freshwater pearls each occupy their own price and style range. Pearls appear in everything from single-strand necklaces and stud earrings to elaborate bridal sets and haute couture designs.
Traditional Medicine
Pearl powder has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over a thousand years. In this system, pearls are classified as a mineral medicine obtained from certain freshwater and saltwater mollusks. Their traditional functions include calming the nervous system, improving eyesight, healing skin lesions and ulcers, and “detoxifying” the body. Historical medical texts dating from the 10th century onward document their use for cataracts, diarrhea, childhood convulsions, insomnia, heart palpitations, burns, and even difficult childbirth.
The underlying theory holds that pearls have a “heavy, sinking” nature that can suppress restlessness and anxiety. This rationale led to their widespread use as a sedative ingredient in compound preparations for epilepsy and palpitations. Pearl-based remedies weren’t limited to China, either. In Medieval and Renaissance Europe, physicians ground pearls and other gemstones into potions for royalty. The Medici family and several popes were treated with these mineral drinks, and gemstones were broadly believed to exert protective powers on their owners.
Skincare and Cosmetics
Pearl powder has been a cosmetic ingredient since at least the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127 AD), and it remains popular in modern formulations. The powder contains trace elements including iron, magnesium, manganese, silicon, strontium, and zinc, along with active proteins that interact with skin in specific ways.
Recent research into how pearl extract works on skin pigmentation has identified several mechanisms. Iron can bind to oxidatively modified melanin and help break it down. Silicon combined with zinc oxide nanoparticles produces photoprotective effects against hyperpigmentation. Calcium carbonate, which makes up the bulk of pearl powder, can serve as a carrier molecule in treatments targeting melanin-producing cells. These properties help explain why pearl extract appears in brightening serums, face masks, and anti-pigmentation creams. A 2025 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that pearl extract alleviates melasma by targeting a specific protein involved in pigment regulation.
Bone and Tissue Repair
One of the more unexpected uses for pearl material is in bone regeneration. Nacre, the iridescent inner layer of mollusk shells that also forms pearls, has properties that make it a promising bone graft substitute. Lab and animal studies have shown that nacre is osteoinductive (it stimulates new bone growth), osteoconductive (it provides a scaffold for bone cells to grow on), biocompatible, and biodegradable. Pearl powder is dense in both protein and mineral content, which contributes to its potential in treating bone disorders. Researchers are actively exploring nacre as an alternative to synthetic bone graft materials used in orthopedic surgery.
Advanced Materials and Engineering
Engineers have been studying nacre’s structure for years because it solves a problem that’s extremely difficult to replicate artificially. Despite being 95% brittle calcium carbonate by weight, nacre achieves roughly three times the energy absorption of its basic component materials. The secret is a “brick-and-mortar” arrangement: tiny aragonite platelets stacked together with a thin (5% by weight) layer of proteins and polysaccharides acting as flexible mortar between them.
This architecture resists cracking through at least five different toughening mechanisms, including crack deflection, interlocking between layers, mineral bridges that span adjacent platelets, plastic deformation of individual tiles, and large-scale crack bridging. When a crack forms, it doesn’t shoot straight through. Instead, it’s forced to zigzag along the soft interfaces, absorbing enormous amounts of energy along the way.
Using 3D printing, researchers can now replicate this hierarchical structure at the micron level. The applications being explored include automobile components, aerospace parts, and protective equipment such as body armor. These bio-inspired materials aim to combine high strength with low weight, high stiffness, and superior energy absorption, qualities that are difficult to achieve simultaneously with conventional engineering materials.
Safety of Pearl Supplements
Toxicology studies have found that pearl powder in all its forms is non-toxic and non-irritating, meeting safety standards for both internal and external use. China’s national pharmacopoeia sets specific limits on heavy metals in pearl products: no more than 5 mg/kg of lead, 0.3 mg/kg of cadmium, 2 mg/kg of arsenic, 0.2 mg/kg of mercury, and 20 mg/kg of copper.
That said, pearl powder contains several trace minerals that can cause problems in excess. Too much iron can trigger vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal inflammation. Excessive zinc intake is linked to elevated blood sugar and cholesterol. High selenium levels can cause hair loss and skin disorders. There is no universally established daily dose for pearl powder as a standalone supplement, so the main risk comes from taking large or unregulated amounts without knowing the mineral content. If you’re considering pearl powder supplements, look for products that have been tested against pharmacopoeia-grade heavy metal limits.