Dermatologists are warning the public about a type of piercing called a dermal anchor, at a presentation given at the British Association of Dermatologists Annual Meeting in Glasgow this week.

Dermal anchors consist of two main components, usually made out of titanium or stainless steel: a flat plate called the ‘anchor’, which sits beneath the skin, and a changeable piece of jewellery that sits on the surface. They are connected by a ‘post’, which is fixed to the plate and protrudes through the skin for attachment of jewellery. These devices are designed to allow greater scope for body decoration, as they enable decoration in areas of the body where traditional piercings wouldn’t be possible, and to have more permanence, as they require professional assistance to remove.

But doctors are raising concerns about how these anchors are inserted into the skin, the safe removal of the anchors, and potential complications. They warn that the procedures involved with inserting and removing these devices are not straightforward, and in the event of something going wrong the NHS is saddled with the burden.

Insertion requires the use of either a scalpel, dermal (skin) punch, or in the case of smaller incisions, a piercing needle. The anchor must be placed deep enough to minimise the risk of the piercing moving, known as migration, but not so deep that the skin begins to grow over the piercing, known as embedding.

Because local anaesthetic injections can only be administered by those with a medical qualification, those undergoing the procedure have to do without, which has the potential to be very painful. Even once successfully administered, complications can occur. One example raised by the dermatologists is a 29 year old woman referred to a dermatology clinic in Glasgow for repeated inflammation and pain in her hand, caused by a dermal anchor inserted nine months before.

How these devices are removed is less clear, particularly as piercers are not recommended to attempt this procedure themselves. In the above case, it was surgically removed by medical professionals, and it soon became clear that it was embedded into the dermis (the lower layer of skin).

Dr Greg Parkins, one of the doctors issuing the warning, said: “If the popularity of this permanent body art continues to increase then so too will the number of patients seeking removal. This has potential health economic consequences, especially if patients are relying on removal of these implants on the NHS.

“It’s important that the public, medical professionals and those carrying out these piercings are aware of the dangers and difficulties associated with dermal anchors. Although local councils regulate businesses that insert dermal anchors through licencing, there is less clarity when it comes to guidance on how these devices should be removed, and by whom.

“The practice of clinical surgery without medical qualifications is a criminal offence in the UK. With dermal anchors the distinction between piercing and surgery is becoming less clear and I feel there are legitimate concerns over adequate training, hygiene and disease transmission.”

Matthew Gass of the British Association of Dermatologists said: “Dermatologists are not trying to dictate what people should and should not do with their bodies. However, it is important that they understand the long-term consequences of these piercings and the associated risks.”

Other observed complications have included infection, patients requiring Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI – a medical imaging technique used to internally examine the body), and pregnant women who have developed acute rejection of abdominal piercings.

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For more information please contact: Matt Gass, Communications Officer, on 020 7391 6084 or atmatthew.gass@bad.org.uk

Study details: ‘Dermal piercings: unregulated high street surgery?’

G. Parkins and M. Porter

Alan Lyle Centre for Dermatology, Glasgow, U.K.