Dermal Wrist Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

Wrist piercing is a type of surface piercing which means it can be placed in several locations and pierced with either a barbell or microdermal. These are the most common types of wrist piercing:

Outer wrist piercing: The outer piercing is placed on the top of the wrist, where a watch face would typically sit. You can opt for a single stud or several in a variety of locations as long as there is enough soft flesh to pierce through.

Inner wrist piercing: The inner wrist piercing is typically placed either side of the wrist tendons (although it actually is only pierced through the soft tissue above the tendon). This alternative body modification is usually pierced with a barbell.

Side wrist piercing: The side wrist piercing placement is a super cute addition especially if you wear jewelled piercing jewellery. The side of the wrist can accommodate several piercings, as long as there is enough soft flesh.

Can you pierce your wrist?

The answer to ‘Can you pierce your wrist?’ is yes, and it’s probably not as painful as you may think. Wrist Piercings are surface piercings that can be done on either the outer or inner wrist. The outer wrist is the most popular option because it is more visible and there is generally more flesh there to pierce.

Do wrist piercings hurt?

Everyone has a different experience with pain. In general, wrist piercings are not deemed to be a particularly painful piercing. It causes minimal bleeding and is at the same level as any other surface piercing. It may hurt initially but shouldn’t be painful after piercing. You are likely to experience up to two weeks of swelling but if you experience any excessive amounts of pain consult a medical professional.

How long do wrist piercings last?

How long a wrist piercing lasts is entirely down to your body’s reaction and your aftercare routine. Like with any surface piercing, there is a chance that wrist piercing rejection will occur. This is the body rejecting the foreign object and pushing it out of the skin. Good aftercare can help your wrist piercing to last longer but you may find after several months or years it will still grow out. If you think your wrist piercing is rejecting or migrating then it is important to consult your piercer on the best course of action in order to reduce scarring.

How does a wrist piercing work?

There are two ways to get your wrist pierced. A wrist piercing works by either a barbell being inserted after your piercer has clamped your wrist and passed a needle through the chosen points or with a dermal anchor. For the dermal anchor your piercer will make a small hole in your skin using a needle or dermal punch and insert the dermal plate using forceps. Both types sit just beneath the skins surface so are fairly quick to heal.

How do wrist piercings stay in?

The wrist piercing procedure involves either a barbell or dermal anchor. If you are choosing a barbell the piercing will stay in with the bar that is beneath the surface of the skin. A dermal wrist piercing involves a dermal plate that will be inserted below the skin. The skin will grow around the anchor, holding it in place. If you would like a single wrist piercing then you will want the dermal piercing. A dermal top is screwed into the anchor and sits above the skin.

How much do wrist piercings cost?

The average cost of a wrist piercing is £35 - £65. The price will depend on the type of piercing jewellery you choose. We always recommend choosing high quality jewellery even if the price is higher. The cost will also depend on the type of piercing you opt for. The wrist surface piercing can either be done using a barbell or microdermal.

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

You need to be 18 years old to have a wrist piercing with ID. You must bring a valid Passport, Driving License, or identification with the holographic Pass logo. If you are under 18 then you must have a guardian or parent present for the piercing to give their consent. The age for getting the wrist piercing with parental consent is 16. Please ensure you bring your ID with you to avoid disappointment as our piercers may refuse to pierce you without the relevant documentation.

When can I change my wrist piercing jewellery?

Wrist piercings usually take 3-6 weeks but can take up to 7 months to fully heal if they are knocked. If you have experienced problems with your wrist piercing then we recommend waiting longer to change the jewellery but usually if it has healed normally you can change your piercing jewellery after 3 months. If you aren’t sure about when to change your piercing jewellery or how to change it then one of our piercers will be happy to help.

Wrist piercing jewellery varies depending on the type of piercing you have had so you will either be able to change to different coloured barbells (always check with your piercer the size of your piercing jewellery) or a different microdermal top.

Want to know more about surface piercings or other types of piercing at Blue Banana? Check out more of our Piercing Guides and FAQs.

Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a wrist 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 wrist piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the wrist 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 wrist piercing location.

The wrist piercing procedure will vary depending on the type of piercing jewellery you have chosen. If you are having a microdermal wrist 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.

If you are having a wrist piercing with a barbell your piercer will pass a sterilised needle through your wrist and insert the piercing jewellery. The piercer may clamp your wrist to keep it taught and still.

Aftercare Advice

A wrist piercing can take 3-6 weeks 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. During healing make sure not to wear clothing or jewellery that will rub against the piercing. You should also avoid heavy lifting and should limit the amount of movement to the wrist in order to help it heal. The amount of movement of the wrist could lead to the piercing taking up to 7 months to heal instead of the usual 6 weeks. Make sure to avoid using any cosmetics, including moisturisers and perfumes, on your wrist until the piercing has healed.

When cleaning your wrist piercing, make sure to wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching your piercing. Gently clean your wrist piercing twice a day with salt water solution or Tea Tree Oil by bathing it using cotton wool.

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 wrist piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Wrist Barbell
Microdermal Piercing Jewellery
Wrist Piercing Jewellery

There are a range of colours and designs to choose from in our wrist 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 wrist 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!

If you regularly participate in sports, you may want to discuss the best piercings for you with your piercer. You may need to consider the type of clothing you wear and whether the sport you participate in could result in the piercing getting knocked.

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.

We generally recommend that for new piercings you choose longer jewellery. This can allow for extra room in case of any swelling. 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.

Wrist Surface Piercing Jewellery

Wrist Surface Piercing Jewellery

Piercing Procedure

Aftercare Advice

Choosing Piercing Jewellery

Other Guides & Ranges