*Back Round Information: I am 14 years old and the only piercings I have are my ear lobe and eyebrow. (See piercing experience: "First, But Not Last Facial Piercing"). They were both pierced professionally. I will also be getting my lower nape pierced in 3 weeks time.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist stupid me. Studio my bedroom! Location my house, ireland One day, while researching piercings on BME I came across surface and unusual. I found this section intriguing. I saw the hand webs and fantasized about having one. At the time all I had was a boring old ear lobe piercing (which I have since stretched to 14g/1.6mm). I had never even considered DIY piercing until one day while working on my dad's farm I came across a bunch of unopened sterile injection needles used for livestock. I remembered my hand web so I put one in my pocket to use later.
After work, I went to the bathroom and scrubbed my hands. Then, I boiled the kettle and put some ice in a cup. When the kettle boiled, I put the 14g belly button barbell that I found in my sister's room in a cup with the boiling water. I left it there while I iced the web between my index finger and my thumb.
After 15 minutes, I thought it was numb enough. I took the needle and positioned it. I just shoved and stopped about 10 times. It stung very badly. Eventually, I saw the tiny tip protruding through the other side! I was ecstatic! I did not bother shoving it through any more. This was stupid because one side was 14g and the other side was about 18g as only the tip of the needle pierced that side.
I pulled the needle out and slid the barbell in. No problems until it reached the end. The hole was too small to accommodate the belly button bar. There was no way it was going through the other side. I panicked and did not want to lose it. Without thinking, I just pulled my 20g earring out of my ear and shoved it through with no resistance. I clipped on the butterfly back and I was very proud of my new addition. It bled a little but did not really worry me that much.
I went straight on to BME again to compare other pictures of hand webs to mine. I suddenly heard a knock on the door and it turned out to be my mother saying good night. I said good night but she asked me to open the door. Shit! I just quickly put my hand into my pocket, had a few words with her and she left. She never suspected a thing. It was a lucky escape. She does not like piercings but since then she has allowed me to get two piercings before I am 16. I picked my eyebrow, which is now three months old and my nape, which I will be getting pierced in three weeks!
I went to bed with no pain, just a slight sting when I move my hand. In the morning, there was no blood or discharge. It looked like it was after being pierced ages ago! That day my family and were going up the country to visit my sister. I went in to the shower to clean my web.
I ran hot water over it, which stung and caused it to bleed. I panicked and took it out. It hurt so much that day. I had to wear a bandage over it for a week. That was my stupid attempt at a hand web. I will never pierce that area again myself.
*WARNING: In no way, do I condone self-piercing. I have DIY pierced my ear cartilage, belly button twice, inverse belly button (least painful), four tongue webs and my hand web. I have none of these piercings today. Moreover, unbelievably my hand web was my DIY piercing with the longest life span – one day! The hand web was the most painful of all of them. I could not use my thumb without a stinging feeling shooting through my hand. I probably would have taken it out eventually anyway because I am a perfectionist and in my opinion, a piercing is not as good if it was not pierced professionally. I will definitely not DIY pierce again and I do not think I will ever get my hand web pierced when i reach the legal age. The legal age for piercings here is 16. I am 14, only two more years to wait!
If you are one of those people out there who are going to pierce it anyway, make sure you pierce the hand, which you use least.
Please feel free to e-mail me but make sure you label the heading HAND WEB so I do not delete it.