You may be wondering what a dermal piercing is and why they have become one of the most requested piercings out there. A dermal piercing is different than your basic cartilage, nose, or belly button piercing. This is a single-point surface piercing. Almost every other body piercing has an entrance and exit point – dermal piercings do not! When done well, this piercing sits flat against the skin and looks incredible. This is the piercing to get if you are looking for the same appearance as a surface bar with half the trouble.
These beauties are tough to clean and take some experience, but it’s all worth it when you have a gorgeous new gem that is sure to make you stand out from the crowd.
Where Can You Get a Dermal Piercing?
Perfect question! These beauties can be placed almost anywhere. They are the most successful when you place them in a spot where the skin isn’t constantly stretching. Some of the most popular placements are the face, chest, wrist, and hips. Looking for a cute necklace to wear? Why not get a dermal on the chest? It’s going to make you stand out, you don’t have to take it on and off and it’s gorgeous!
There are a few things to keep in mind when getting this pretty little piercing!
You Need an Experienced Piercer!
Not all piercers can perform this piercing successfully, or with any type of skill. When looking for a professional body piercer for your new addition talk to your piercer about their experience with surface anchors/dermal! A reputable piercer will have an extensive portfolio featuring both fresh and healed piercings.
When looking for a piercing make sure to check out the Association of Professional Piercers, most reputable piercers are APP members and use high-quality jewelry. Does your piercer use ASTM F138 implant grade titanium compliant jewelry? Find out exactly what type of body jewelry is going to be used, this can be essential to the healing of your piercing. Have implant grade jewelry that is internally threaded with a smooth finish is going to make the healing process much more successful. Most piercers are going to use a 14g thread pattern, which is important to know! The size of the threading is the size of the top you will need to get when it comes time to change up the look.
How Do You Clean a Dermal Piercing or Surface Anchor?
After getting this brand-new piercing you want to build a bubble around it! Just like any other piercing, you want to make sure it doesn’t move or rotate. The piece that is inserted into the skin has a t-shaped backing that has two holes. The goal is to have the tissue grow around these to help lock the dermal in place. Keeping the piercing stationary and clean is crucial to keep it from rejecting. Using a basic saline solution to clean your dermal anchor twice a day is all you need to do to keep it clean and clear. Using Bactine, alcohol and Neosporin are not recommended and can delay the overall healing time. It’s always a good idea to stay conscious of the piercing to avoid snagging it or knocking it against something.
What Kind of Tops Should you Look for?
One of the coolest things about dermal anchors is that you only need to thread in the top. This makes picking out jewelry a breeze! Jewelry that sits flat and flush to the skin is going to help keep the longevity of the piercing. Anything that sticks out or has a thick end will pull on the anchor and it can sometimes result in rejection. You’re not stuck with the top you get pierced with. The APP recommends that you keep the top you were pierced with on for 2-3 months, the basic healing time for a dermal anchor. After that, your piercer can change it out to whatever your heart desires. This is a piercing that is difficult to change on your own, but no worries your piercer has all the necessary tools to make changing the top a breeze. You can find tops in almost all shapes and colors!
There is no doubt that you are going to stand out with a dermal anchor, it is a gorgeous addition when you are looking to adorn your body.
