Dermal piercings, called transdermal implants, have a single entry and exit point. Piercers create them through tiny holes where they insert and screw the jewellery piece, giving raised beads appearance on your skin. Keep reading to learn everything you should know before getting one.
1. Where To Put Dermal Piercings
You can have dermal piercings anywhere on your body, provided that it is a flat surface. The most common areas for dermal piercings are cheekbones, nape, chest, lower back, abdomen, and thighs. The chosen skin area has to be thick enough to hold the piercing.
2. Materials Used
Dermal piercings use the following materials to secure your chosen jewellery:
Anchor – When the piercer creates the hole, they insert an anchor to provide a base for the piercing, which can be rounded or flat.Top – After anchor insertion, the piercer will insert the jewellery you’ve picked, which will sit on the top of your skin.Diver – These are jewellery with pointed bases and built-in jewellery on top that cannot be changed, unlike the anchor styles.Skin type and conditions are essential in dermal piercings. Here are the commonly used jewellery materials least likely to cause skin irritations.
Titanium – Ideal for sensitive skin.Surgical stainless steel – Commonly used but can still cause irritations.Niobium – One of the readily available hypoallergenic metals used as jewellery.Gold – Fourteen karat jewellery is best, as gold-plated ones can cause allergic reactions.
3. Procedure
Depending on the skin area and jewellery type, dermal piercings can be done using needles or dermal punches. Here is how your dermal piercing will go.
For needles:
The piercer will clean the skin using antiseptics and alcohol, as well as water and soap (if needed), to ensure the area is prepped and sterile for the piercing process.After drying your skin, the area will be marked with a pen or marker to ensure the piercing is in the right spot.After prepping the piercing site, the piercer will create a hole by puncturing the area using the needle. This pocket is where the piercer will insert the anchor.After pocket creation, the piercer may use forceps to hold and insert the anchor base, which they’ll push until it’s entirely implanted.The last step is setting and screwing on your chosen jewellery.The piercer will not use a needle to create the pocket for dermal punches. They will punch and remove little skin tissues for the anchor to sit in.
4. Risks
Dermal piercings are often associated with risks, and these are the following:
Infection – Leaving the area unsterile during the procedure or improper aftercare can cause bacterial growth, resulting in infections.Anchor displacement – If the anchor insertion is rushed, it can be dislodged, displacing it on a different skin area.Skin rejections – Your body may treat the piercing as a foreign object, causing rejection. This happens when the dermis expands so long as the jewellery remains in your skin and is most common in anchor displacements.Tissue damage – The skin has many blood vessels and nerves. When the piercer pushes the beyond the needed area, it may damage these tissues.Hypergranulation – This is when a red bump forms when the piercing is too tight or irritated.Scarring – As the punctured areas heal during rejections or removals, they may produce scarring, which you can treat with skin creams for scars.
5. Healing and Aftercare
Your dermal piercing heals within one to three months with proper aftercare. Expect to see crusting and minor swelling in the first few weeks of the healing process. This will eventually subside as time passes.
Here’s what you should focus on for optimal aftercare.
Keep the bandage on for the first few days.Wash hands before touching.Use a sea salt or saline solution twice daily for cleaning.Gently wipe the crust.Cover the area when showering.Air dry the site to prevent introducing bacteria.Here’s what you shouldn’t do.
Don’t wear something tight around the area.Don’t rub the area when cleaning.Don’t pick the crusts.Don’t play with or constantly touch the jewellery.
Watch out for yellow or green discharges. These are usually signs of infections, so immediately see a doctor for treatment.
Get Dermal Piercings from Professional Piercers
Dermal piercings are a commitment, so you should give serious consideration before getting them. Have them done by professional piercers to ensure safety, cleanliness, and proper advice on aftercare and maintenance.
