What is Dermal Piercing?
Unlike nose and earlobe piercing, Dermal Piercing involves the process where a part of the stud or ring engraves inside the skin. They are different types of dermal piercings. Moreover, it can be done on any part of your body i.e. near your brow bone, neck, naval, back (back dermals) and chin, hence is a type of body piercing. A few celebrities who have this kind of piercing include the likes of Melissa Green and Keyshia Cole who styled themselves with it.
WHAT IS A MICRO DERMAL PIERCING?
Micro dermal piercing is a single-point piercing that lies on any flat surface of the body, but they are not surface piercings. The anchor gets embedded under the skin which holds the jewelry in place. The micro dermal piercing is different from others as there are separate entry and exit points for the ornament but in this case, there is no exit point.
There is one puncture in the skin which gets the anchor under it. The jewelry sits on the surface with its end embedded underneath. It looks like beads embellishing the skin. Microdermals are suitable for areas that are not easy as regular piercings. The piercing are common for cheekbones, fingers, neck, thighs, lower back (back dermal), abdomen, and chest.
Procedure
- First of all, a qualified technician will sterilize the area.
- After that, a small dermal punch or an L-shaped punch under the epidermis of your skin will follow.
- Then a tiny anchor or diver will be carefully inserted. The base of the anchor is usually 6 to 7 millimeters long.
- After setting the anchor, he will set the top of your jewelry.
Does it hurt? – Pain
Yes, just like other piercings, it may cause an ache. Dermal piercings are no exceptions but there are variations in the level of pain depending on the area. The fleshier the area, the lesser will be the pain. Rest it depends on your tolerance of pain and the type of procedure followed.
Risk
Though Dermal piercing is a versatile and trendy style, it has got its limitations. Due to its inward placement, it can become a bit complicated to manage. Let’s take a look at the risk factors.
- Displacement: If the anchor is not resting under the skin correctly, it may dislodge and can move to another area of the underlying space.
- Infection: The Immune system of our body by default starts preparing antibodies for any foreign particle that enters it. Now as the anchor lies under the skin, antibodies will attack it. Less reactive metals are thus advised to be used.
- Tissue Damage: If the anchor is too deep inside the skin, there is a risk of tearing the blood vessel or causing tissue damage.
- Scarring: In case of dermal piercing, the type of piercing scar is a significant drawback as the mark remains on your skin as the punch heals up.
INFECTION: SYMPTOMS AND CURE
SYMPTOMS
- Severe pain and swelling
- The high temperature of the region.
- Pus discharge
- Foul smell
- Redness and rashes
CURE
- Do not remove the jewelry as it will clog the pores.
- Clean the area free of pus and other discharge.
- Use a cotton piece soaked in the warm saline solution and dab it over the infection.
- Consult a doctor and follow his advice.
HEALING TIME
Healing time is usually one to three months which varies on certain other factors like aftercare, cleaning, and avoiding injuries and infections. In case the infectivity arises, it may take longer for recovery.
Cleaning & Care
Proper and timely cleaning and utmost care is a must. Listed below are a few Do’s and Don’ts which if followed will save the infections and associated problems.
Do’s
- Keep the area covered with a bandage initially to avoid chances of bacterial infections.
- Pat the area dry after taking a shower.
- Wash the area with saline solution twice or thrice daily.
- Use clean towels and handkerchiefs to wipe up that portion of your skin.
Don’ts
- Touch the affected area with dirty hands.
- Avoid wearing tight clothes on or around the pierced part of your skin.
- Try to change the jewelry until three months or till it heals completely.
- Intake of oily and spicy food.
In case of any irritation that persists even after a long time or other allergic reactions, consult a physician and follow the prescribed treatment. Styling should not affect your well-being in any way and so certain precautions and aftercare will be a must after such kinds of piercings.
MICRO DERMAL JEWELRY
DERMAL ANCHORS
There are two types of dermal anchors, one is a flat base, and the other is the round base dermal anchor. A Footed anchor is more secure as it is less likely to pop out of the skin.
DERMAL TOPS
Micro dermal tops can be screwed and unscrewed from the anchors. It is advisable to take the help of the piercer while doing so. To reduce the pain of visiting the parlor every time, use magnetic tops.
DIVERS
It has a point-end base that holds jewelry at the top.
BARBELL
Micro barbells are useful as they have different entry and exit points
Read more about: BACK DIMPLE PIERCING
Related: Eyebrow Piercing
What material options available for the Jewelry
As the base of the adornment will be resting under the skin, it is advisable to select an appropriate material for jewelry. Here are a few suggestions.
- Surgical Titanium: If your skin is too sensitive, then it is the right choice for you as it is nonreactive therefore it will not irritate.
- Niobium: This is another hypo-allergic material that does not readily corrode hence it’s quite safe.
- Gold: If you are opting for gold, make sure you choose 14 karat gold. The quality is to be kept in mind as gold-plated jewelry isn’t durable and can cause infections or allergies.
Cost
The ideal cost of the dermal and micro dermal piercings with jewelry may range from $70-$100. Some studios may charge for the jewelry separately.
Read also about: NECK PIERCING
