Dermal piercings - also known as microdermal piercings or single-point piercings, are piercings that lie flat against the surface of the skin. The completely flat affect occurs because dermal piercings don’t have a separate entry and exit point; instead, a dermal anchor is installed directly under the skin. This anchor is around six or seven millimeters long, and the top of it sits on the surface layer of the skin, making it look like there are beads directly underneath the dermis. The jewelry is then installed by being screwed into the top of the post. 

What makes dermal piercings so popular is that they can be placed on almost any flat surface of the body, making it easy to modify parts of the body that would otherwise be difficult to pierce. Be careful when looking to get a dermal piercing, however; some people actually mean surface piercings when they say dermal. The major difference here is that a surface piercing is a barbell that sits on the surface of the skin and has an entry and exit point. It’s created by pinching the skin, sticking a needle through it to create a “passageway” for the jewelry, and inserting a barbell into the flesh so both ends are visible while the middle sits below the surface of the skin.

Just like with any body modification, there is going to be some pain when it comes to dermal piercings. Unless your pain tolerance is extremely high, you will most likely feel some sort of discomfort—whether a pinch or a more visceral feeling. It’s fairly dependent on where you choose to place your dermal piercing as well. Considering nerve placement, the different thicknesses of skin, and proximity to veins will be helpful when choosing a placement, as they’re all elements that may affect how a piercing will feel. -Byrdie.com

If you are looking for a dermal, surface piercing or any new addition Orbit Skate and Boutique has an excellent team of industry professionals waiting to assist you!