How to Care for a Microdermal Piercing

Microdermal piercings are a type of body modification also known as single-point piercings and dermal anchors. The jewelry used for a microdermal piercing features an oval-shaped surgical steel base studded with holes. The hollow, threaded post of the jewelry comes out of the base at a 90-degree angle. A piercer makes a small cut in the skin using a beveled piercing needle, slips the base of the dermal anchor under the skin and screws a bead into the hollow post. The final look is that of a single bead or gem resting on the surface of the skin.

Leave the bandage on the dermal anchor for the first 24 hours. The pressure of the bandage helps hold the jewelry in place, allowing tissue to begin growing through the holes of the base.

Wash your hands with hot water and antimicrobial soap before cleaning your microdermal piercing. Never touch your microdermal jewelry unless you are cleaning it.

Add a pinch of non-iodized sea salt, no more than 1/8 tsp., to 1 cup of very hot bottled water. Stir the saline solution with a clean spoon. Saturate a sterile gauze pad with the solution and press it firmly against your jewelry for 10 minutes, once a day to loosen any dried blood and plasma.

Lather a pea-sized amount of antimicrobial soap in the palm of your hand with warm water. Gently massage the lather around the jewelry and allow it to remain on your skin for one minute. Splash your skin with warm water to rinse off the soap. Dry your skin with an unused paper towel. Repeat this process twice daily.

Cover your jewelry with a fresh waterproof bandage before going to bed at night. Choose a bandage that forms a tight seal all the way around the piercing. Leave the bandage on when you shower in the morning to prevent shampoo or regular soap from getting into the piercing. Remove the bandage and clean your piercing separately after you shower.