Hand Dermal Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

There are many types of hand piercings because, like with many surface and microdermal piercings, there are a range of different placements available depending on your anatomy. Here are just some of the hand piercing types:

Hand Web Piercing
Finger Piercing
Middle Finger Piercing
Engagement Ring Piercing
Wedding Ring Piercing

Finger web piercings either involve the web of skin between the thumb and index finger or two fingers. Popular jewellery choices include a stud in each web with a chain looped from each one or just one web with a barbell.

Top of the finger piercing involves piercing the surface skin over the knuckle, usually the lower knuckle. A surface bar is suitable for this location as well as a small hoop or ring.

A finger mound piercing takes place on the top of a digit, but not on the knuckle. It can be finished with a surface bar or barbell and looped together with a fine chain.

Perhaps the most popular type of hand piercing takes place on the top of the hand. This type of piercing is usually finished with a simple stud.

See our hand piercing FAQs including finger piercing and web hand piercings to find out more about this extreme body modification.

Can you get your hand pierced?

You can get your hand pierced with a surface piercing or microdermal. Types of hand piercing include hand web piercing, finger piercing, and hand piercing. Carefully consider your lifestyle before getting your hand pierced as this area is hard to heal and is a serious body modification.

How old do you have to be to get a hand piercing?

To have a hand piercing or finger piercing you need to be 18 years old. You may be asked to show a form of ID. The identification types that are acceptable include a valid Passport, Driving License, or ID with the holographic Pass logo. If you are 16 – 18 years old you can get a hand piercing with parental consent. Your parent or guardian must be present during the piercing.

How much does a hand piercing cost?

Hand piercings are usually priced at £35 - £65. The cost of your hand piercing may depend on the placement and the type of jewellery you choose. High quality piercing jewellery will cost more but the price is worth it because it may help your piercing to heal. A hand piercing can be done with a barbell or microdermal anchor which have different prices.

How do hand piercings stay in?

If you would like a dermal hand piercing you may be wondering ‘How do dermal piercings stay in place?’ The dermal anchor that is placed below the skin holds the piercing in place once it has healed because the skin will grow and heal around the plate.

Do dermal hand piercings hurt?

You may experience more pain after the piercing compared with other types of piercing. This is because we use our hands constantly so there is a higher chance that your hand will be knocked or the wound will be moved. Hand piercing pain varies for each person but tends to be scored at an average of 3 out of 10 on the pain scale.

How long do dermal hand piercings last?

Dermal piercings are notoriously difficult to heal due to their location. You may find that your dermal hand piercing does not last very long because the area experiences too much movement. However, some people find that their dermal piercings can last months or even years once they have healed.

Do web piercings hurt?

Hand web piercings usually don’t hurt too much because they are being pierced through the skin and soft flesh. Some people find hand piercings more painful during the healing process compared with other types of piercings. The web piercing on the hand is an area that moves around a lot which can be why it causes pain in the first couple of weeks.

Are finger piercings dangerous?

Finger piercings are not dangerous. They carry the same risks as any other piercing. The important thing to remember with any surface piercing such as a finger piercing is that they are more prone to rejection which means they could grow out over time. Any hand piercing also has a higher risk of becoming infected due to the exposed location and the regularity with which we use our hands. Keeping the area clean and using your other hand instead where possible will help you to reduce the chance of an infection. For this reason, piercers will usually recommend only getting one hand piercing at a time to allow each piercing to heal.

What is a finger piercing called?

A finger piercing doesn’t have a special name but the type of piercing is called a microdermal or dermal piercing. This is a piercing that is placed beneath the skin using an anchor. Some finger piercings are done with a barbell instead. There are a few different placements for finger piercings which have their own names including middle finger, engagement ring, and wedding ring.

Do finger piercings hurt?

Finger piercings do not usually hurt much when they are done because the piercing only goes through the skin however they can be painful for a couple of weeks after having the piercing due to swelling. If you are thinking about getting a finger piercing, be careful in day to day activities as getting your piercing caught will be extremely painful, especially if it breaks through the skin.

As you can see there is plenty to consider before getting a hand piercing. This awesome body modification can be tricky to heal so you need to fully commit to aftercare and may need to temporarily adjust your lifestyle to limit how much movement your hands and fingers get. Think carefully if you play sports, instruments, or are a manual labourer.

Want to know more about piercing at Blue Banana? Head to our Piercing Guides to read more of your FAQs answered.

Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a hand piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day.

Make sure to check the hand piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the hand piercing age restriction is 18 (ID may be required) or 16 with parental consent from a parent or guardian who is present.

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the hand piercing location.

The hand piercing procedure will vary depending on the type of piercing jewellery you have chosen. If you are having a hand or finger piercing with a barbell your piercer will pass a sterilised needle through the skin. The piercer may clamp your skin to make it easier. If you are having a microdermal hand piercing then the piercer will make a small hole in the skin using a needle or dermal punch and insert a dermal anchor using forceps. The piercer will clamp the area of skin when you are having a microdermal piercing.

Aftercare Advice

A hand piercing can take 6-12 months to fully heal. The healing time varies from person to person and will need top aftercare to ensure successful healing.

During the healing process, it is important to avoid knocking the piercing or putting pressure on the area as this will slow down healing and can even cause unnecessary problems. It can be difficult to do this with a hand piercing since our hands are in constant use. To help prevent infection always wear gloves when washing up or carrying out other activities that may introduce dirt or soap into the wound and limit the number of substances your hand in exposed too.

When cleaning your hand piercing, make sure to wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching your piercing (taking care not to put soap on your piercing). Gently clean your hand piercing twice a day with salt water solution or Tea Tree Oil by bathing it using cotton wool.

Hand piercings are very prone to being knocked so you will need to fully commit to aftercare to get your new piercing to heal. Hand piercings have one of the highest infection rates due to the placement.

If you would like further information, make sure to read our full Piercing Aftercare Guides to learn about side effects to look out for.

Choosing Piercing Jewellery

There’s plenty of options when it comes to hand piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Hand Dermals
Finger Barbells
Hand Piercing Jewellery
Ring Piercing

There are a range of colours and designs to choose from in our hand piercing jewellery range. When choosing your piercing jewellery there are a few things you should consider:

Jewellery Size – Make sure to find out from your piercer the size your hand piercing jewellery should be.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin. If you have sensitive skin that is prone to irritation, one of the many Titanium jewellery options is recommended. This material comes in a variety of colours and is durable too!

When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. We display the piercing jewellery measurements as Gauge first (displayed in millimetres) then Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.

You will need to be patient and not change your hand piercing jewellery too soon as this piercing takes a long time to heal due to the location. Make sure to check out the tips from our piercing guides for information about changing and removing piercing jewellery.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.

Hand Surface Piercing Jewellery

Hand Surface Piercing Jewellery

Piercing Procedure

Aftercare Advice

Choosing Piercing Jewellery

Other Guides & Ranges