For years I had been planing to have my hand web pierced. I had to have it so...Knowing my parents wouldn't allow it; I did what any girl would do in this situation.
At A Glance Author Drew Contact Drew@bme.anon When Three months ago Studio Wild Ink Location Oshawa GET IT DONE ANYWAYS.
Before having the piercing done, I did my research. But since this is not a really common piercing there really isnt much to read up on it. Going into the place, I knew what I wanted and where I wanted it. But then the piercer marked the web , it was MUCH higher up than I expected. Meaning the piercing was much deeper. The piercer even told me herself that she had never pierced a handweb before. My friends warned me, and tried to talk me out of it.But not only did I want the piercing. This was a way for me to show some independance, as I would be leaving for college in the Fall.
It was my first body piercing, and I was terrified. The piercer was not very informative, but I decided to go ahead with it anyways. Once the needle was through there was no going back. I had her put a ring with a suspended ball in it.
The first week, the piercing throbbed and it felt as thought I could feel my own heart beat through it. Slowly the pain and throbbing went away. Then came the dry skin. Now, the piercer told me to use Bactine spray on my web. This spray which disinfects also is alcohol based. So while my piercing was healed, it was left with flaky, peeling, itchy skin all around it. The skin continued to peel and peel. Think of it like an onion, you can peel it and peel it. But eventually there is nothing left. While hand cream seemed like a perfect solution, I was afraid that it might A) cause an infection B)make the infection I already had worse. I used Vaseline but, because of the placement of the ring, and the fear of taking it out. I was unable to properly treat the area.
While the appearance of the piercing may not be attractive, I had grown very used to the piercing. I had become very fond of it, and it's ability to make people gag. And not because of the dry skin, but because of the placement on the piercing. For some reason that is a place that will make most people gag. I also had lots of compliments from people telling me that they had never seen that piercing before and that they thought it was really neat.
Slowly scar tissue built up underneath of the skin and caused the muscle closest to my palm and web to push out a little. Soon after that yellow thick puss became coming out when the piercing was squeezed, but since the puss was not brown or black I thought I was in the clear. My piercing was constantly red, but because of the dry skin. While taking my blood pressure at the hospital, a nurse even offer her opinion that my hand web was indeed infected.
But being the stupid young teenager what I am, I ignored all signs of infection. I have a problem admitting something like infection because everyone I know has piercings that never seem to have any type of problems.
I changed the SBR(Suspended Ball Ring) for a horseshoe, but after a week it was constantly getting caught on things like my hair extentions or my mesh bag. Finally after getting fed up on night(aka last night) I took the horseshoe out, and planned to put the SBR(Suspended Ball Ring) back in.
Little did I know that when I woke up in the morning that there would be a hard slightly transluscent blacky-browny-red lump that would stop be from putting ANY jewlery back into the piercing. I came onto this site looking for help on deciding what to do. I am seriously attached to it. But the jewlery will NOT go back in. I am a wuss and am afraid of forcing it back in. One, because it will hurt, and Two, it could mess the piercing up even worse that it already was.
I dont regret getting the piercing done. It was an interesting experience. But I wish I was better informed and wish I had made some better decisions about the piercer and the timing.
Now looking back I have a few tips for anyone wanting to get a hand web piercing:
1. Research the piercing.
2. Make sure the piercer is experienced.
3. Use SEA SALT and WATER to clean your piercing, Bactine and other disinfectant sprays may seem easier, but in the long run they arent worth it.
4. Watch for signs of infection.
5. Make sure your jewlery is comfortable.