Nape piercing jewelry usually consists of flexible materials or barbells when penetrating the skin. Find out here all you need to know about this odd form of body piercing…
Nape of the neck is also known as ‘medulla oblongata’, and the piercing is done at the back of the neck region, or even slightly below it along the spine area. It requires an adequate thickness of tissue to sink into and pierce through, for nape piercing jewelry. This is usually 1.6 mm in length, within the skin surface. Commonly used jewelry consists of curvy shaped ones, or PTFE (teflon) where these provide the body a better chance at healing wounds. Titanium is another option for jewelry used in surface body piercings.
Once the healing process is complete, which is about 8 weeks, the long vertical bars used for the initial piercing is removed, and replaced with something shorter after the swelling subsides. We look into the different types of piercings that people get over their bodies, known as ‘surface piercings’, and how different kinds of jewelry are used, to adorn nape piercings.
What are the Different Types of Surface Piercings?
Besides nape piercings, there are other forms of surface piercings that people sport all over their body. Some forms of these piercings can be weird, and not something that people in their right minds would do. There’s always someone who wants to take body art and piercings to another level, and this is just one way of doing it. Besides the obvious piercings known today, like the navel or eyebrow, there’s a whole lot more to piercing than meets the eye. There are two problems that take place if piercings aren’t done in the correct manner.
One being, ‘mitigation‘, where the piercing moves from the original place that it was inserted into, and second, ‘rejection‘, where the body cannot take the insertion of the foreign object, put into that part of the body, pushing it out and causing an infection or form of inflammation. If you take care of the piercing in the way that you should, by keeping it clean and free from the possibility of an infection or reaction, then the chances of having a fully healed piercing is possible. Here’s looking into the different types of body piercings that require surface piercings inclusively.
Hip Piercing: This type of piercing is done around the pelvic region, that is, where the hips taper down, along the hip bones.
Corset Piercing: Just like how the pattern of a corset crisscross in successive patterns, the same is showcased by an array of piercings that meet at points, with bands attached to them to form a corset like pattern.
Stomach Piercing: Usually done as navel piercings, this includes the surrounding areas that covers the torso region as well.
Madison Piercing: This piercing is placed above the collarbone, usually as a horizontal piercing. Collarbone piercing can be experimented with other kinds of jewelry as well.
Neck Piercing: This piercing can be found anywhere along the side of the neck, where people usually put two studs protruding from the skin surface, resembling a two-fang vampire bite.
Vertical Tragus: The tragus is the eternal part of the ear, where it bulges just before the opening towards the inner ear. This is where cartilage piercings are done, right on this bulbous cartilaginous portion.
Nape Piercing: As you now know, nape piercing jewelry is placed on the back portion of the neck or the lower area along the spine.
Anti Eyebrow Piercings: This type of facial piercing is where jewelry is placed either beside the eye portion, or below it. Anti eyebrow piercings don’t have to follow the usual form of piercing one’s eyebrow, but can travel anywhere around the eye area.
Wrist Piercing: Wrist piercing is usually done on the upper side of the wrist, where the veins are prominent, or on the top portion as well.
Sternum Piercing: Sternum piercings are done along the sides of the body, where the rib cage curves. This can be done on the lower or upper half of one’s body, on the sides.
How is a Surface Piercing Done?
When nape jewelry piercings are done, along with the other kinds, there’s a certain method that goes into puncturing these into the skin. Due to the body’s resistance of holding in horizontal piercings, barbells are used, that are bent at 90 degree angles, giving the body a sort of restriction when trying to push the piercing out. A skilled person is needed to practice this form of piercing, who knows exactly how to place the jewelry, and what depth is required for penetration.
Due to the chances being high of the body rejecting the piercing even in the future, people have to constantly be aware of the piercing presence. Later on it is then too late to have it removed, being an area that’s been healed and closed off at the entry points, leaving behind scarring as a result of carelessness. Here’s how surface piercings are done, and what kinds of jewelry is used for nape piercings.
Scalpelled
This is done by using a low pressure flap, under which the jewelry is placed, but the chances of the body rejecting this piercing is high.
Punch and Taper
The needle used here is the same shape as that of a barbell (the 90 degree piercing), helping the wound heal faster, avoiding the situation of migration.
Traditional
Using nylon/curved barbells, where the long term effect of this aren’t evident. Therefore it is advisable to ditch the idea of using this type of piercing.
Surgical
Skin tubes are created, where the jewelry can then be placed within.
Scar and Brace
This is done by inserting the piercing into a tough layer of tissue, or using a small bar like implant that is placed within the skin, that acts as a brace.
How Do I Take Care of my Nape Piercing?
You need to understand that getting a surface piercing done on the nape of your neck is tricky and poses as a problem in the long run. Due to the presence of material rubbing against the piercing, this can over time lead to rejection, since the friction caused can create a problem for the wound to heal. Clothes can get snagged onto the piercing, where nape piercing rings should be avoided, since this can cause the skin to tear easily from the pressure of the pull, leading to painful skin tears.
What you need to do is make sure you keep that area exposed as often as possible to avoid the healing process from being hampered. It is recommended that you use PTFE piercings, during the healing process and then switch to something else after it has healed completely. Using barbells in the future would help, being angled the way it is to avoid the body from rejecting the piercing. Don’t touch that area with unwashed hands, and always make sure to avoid soap or chemicals from invading the wound area. It is advisable to keep it dry at all times, and apply creams specially made to keep the area infection free.
As you can see, nape piercing jewelry can range from what is not advisable for your body, to what your body can handle. Always remember to avoid removing your clothes too fast, and putting them on too quickly, knowing that you have a piercing that could get caught in it. Follow hygiene tips and instructions from your piercing artist as well, and make sure you go to someone you trust and knows what he/she is doing. Good luck.
