What is Dermal Piercing: How Do Dermal Piercings Work?

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After researching piercings for my latest article, my feed was filled with related articles. And here I am, with another article related to dermal piercing; this topic is highly in demand.

What is a Dermal Piercing?

It is different from traditional piercing types, and unlike an earring or a nose piercing, it does not have an exit point.

But what is done is the skin holds the piercing, and the pierced jewelry anchors the skin. So, would it be painful? Damn yes! But we will talk about it briefly later.

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What is a Dermal Piercing_
What is a Dermal Piercing_

The jewelry looks like a bead on your skin and looks really pretty. It might seem that dermal piercings are surface piercings, but they are not.

Surface piercings are barbell-shaped, have entry and exit points, and go through the skin, whereas dermal piercings stay on top of the skin.

How Do Dermal Piercings Work?

The artist or piercer will make a hole in your skin so the jewelry can be anchored into your skin’s middle layer. The jewelry base is around 7mm long, enough to secure the spot.

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How do dermal piercings work
How do dermal piercings work

Now, where can you get pierced? 

ANYWHERE… but the place should have flat skin to hold the anchor and jewelry. 

The very famous places people get dermal piercings done are:

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  • Cheekbones,
  • Chest,
  • Neck,
  • Forehead,
  • Back,
  • Abdomen.

3 stages in the Dermal Piercings process

There are different stages in this process, and the body artist will use different tools for each. Let’s examine it closely.

  1. First, the artist sterilizes the area that will be pierced.
  2. Then, a dermal punching machine will make an ‘L’ shaped hole in your skin where the anchor will stay, or he/she will do it manually.
  3. Forceps will be used to plant the anchor inside the skin to hold the jewelry.

Available Materials To Get

The body artist will give you a choice of materials through which your piercing will be done. These options vary from suitability to cost; you can talk to this about your piercer. They will let you know more. 

Here are a few of them:

  • Surgical titanium: Like I said last time, do you have sensitive skin? This is a go-to option for you. It is safe because it is used to create surgical implants, so obviously, you can get a piercing with this.
  • Surgical stainless steel: This is a perfect option for those who do not wish to spend too much money, but it may irritate a little bit and can’t give you surety.
  • Niobium: Now, this material will not corrode, and it is important; really, it is not that costly, either.
  • Gold: Do not go for 24 carat or any other carat. It is not durable, and it will get really painful if it breaks inside your skin. If you have extra money, go for 14-carat white, rose, or pink gold. Do not opt for gold-plated stuff. It is not healthy.

Oh, and before we move on, I want to clarify that micro-dermal piercing is another word for dermal piercings. It is the same thing.

So don’t get fooled and pay extra, okay? Yeah good.

How Much Will You Be Charged?

Well, it depends on your artist, the kinds of materials you are choosing, and the jewelry you are choosing. 

It can cost you up to 100$, and for Indians? Anywhere under 5k INR

And it can increase; as I said, it totally depends.

Does Dermal Piercing Hurt?

Well, yes, But not that much.

Does dermal piercings hurt
Does dermal piercings hurt

There are a few factors, though, 

  • The area of piercing, the fleshier, the less pain,
  • The type of piercing and dermal punching is better. It is like taking a vaccine shot,
  • Your ability to take the pain,
  • Artist’s experience and technique.

Risks Involved in Dermal Piercing

Here they come, what everyone fears, the dark side, side effects may be.

Risks Involved in Dermal Piercing
Risks Involved in Dermal Piercing

Well, let’s dive straight into it:

  • Getting infected: Well, if the piercing is not done in a clean environment, if the material does not suit the body, and if the aftercare is neglected, boy, you are getting infected.
  • Rejection by the body: If the body rejects the material, it will create issues. It can also happen if the skin tissues expand until the jewelry is pushed out. This is common if the anchor is misplaced, so get it right because the body will reject it.
  • Tissue level damage: This can and will occur if your body artist is inexperienced; if the anchor is inserted too deep, it will damage essential tissues.
  • Hypergranulation on the skin: Is there a red bump around your skin? See a doctor; by skin, I mean the pierced area. It is caused by the jewelry being too tight or the piercing getting irritated because of skin sensitivity. Putting too much makeup around that area or improper cleaning can lead to these things.
  • Scarring: If you plan to get the piercing removed, it will leave a scar, and it may not look good.

Time To Heal

At first, the piercing site may seem swollen for a few weeks, but it will heal with time. The typical time it takes for the piercing to heal is 1-3 months. However, this time can and will increase if you do not take care of it properly.

It is very important to watch out for signs of infection. For example, if you see pus coming out, go to a doctor.

DOs and DON’Ts

Apart from some obvious things like staying in touch with your doctor and giving your piercing spot enough sunlight, here are a few things to ensure you don’t make any mistakes that might lead to bad things.

  1. To prevent the healing area from becoming infected, keep it covered with a bandage for a few days. Once the piercing starts to dry, you can remove it.
  2. Wash your hands with non-alcoholic soap and solutions so the wound does not get infected.
  3. Use antibacterial paper towels for cleaning. 
  4. Clean your wound using a sea salt solution twice a day.
  5. Clean away any crust forming using paper towels.
  6. Try to keep the piercing wound away from water and cover it during showers.
  7. Pat it dry clean after each showering session. 
  8. Do not wear tight clothing; let it breathe for it to heal.
  9. Keep your hair away so it does not get tangled.
  10. Please avoid hyperactivity, such as playing a rough sport. It will ruin the piercing, at least in the healing days. 
  11. Do not use soaps or solutions directly on the wound. Clean it with a paper towel and leave the rest to your doctor.
  12. Do you have a terrible habit of picking apart crusts that form around a wound when it starts to heal, like me? Don’t do that here. Use a paper towel instead.
  13. Please do not change jewelry until the wound has completely healed. 
  14. And for god’s sake, do not play with your jewelry.

How long do dermal piercings last?

You must be confused about why it should stay in forever, right? Sorry to burst your bubble, but no. Slowly, the skin will grow, and it will push the anchor out.

It can take from 3-5 years for that to happen. 

So, if you want to get that thing again? Well, back to square one, mate.

Dermal Piercing Removal

If you wish not to get it again once the skin inside grows back, or if you don’t like it.

You can get it removed, but please do not do that yourself. You will critically injure yourself.

Hence, contact your body artist when it is time to get it out and seal the place. 

Yes, a doctor can also do this; you can contact your body artist regarding this, and they will give you a better opinion.

That’s it, people, before moving on to the FAQs section. Thank you for reading up to this point; please let me know your thoughts in the comment section.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q.1. Is a dermal piercing painful?

Ans. Yes, it is, but there are a lot of factors, such as your pain-taking ability and the technique you use.

Q.2. How long do dermal piercings last?

Ans. 3 to 5 years. It also depends on how properly you clean it.

Q.3. How do dermal piercings stay in place?

Ans. Inside the dermal layer of your skin, an L-shaped anchor is fitted, holding your jewelry in place.

Q.4. Is Dermal permanent?

Ans. No, they are not. Eventually, the skin grows back, pushing out the anchor and jewelry.

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Dr. Angela Olivares
Dr. Angela Olivares
Dr. Angela Olivares is a board-certified dermatologist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is a graduate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed her residency in dermatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Ashton has a private practice in New Jersey and New York City, where she specializes in skin cancer detection and treatment, as well as general dermatology.

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