While Kim Kardashian spoke up for her eldest daughter getting an unusual piercing, a doctor has issued a stern warning.
While piercings are perfectly legal and safe… well, most of the time… when it comes to minors, there’s always going to be a strong reaction to their choices.
Kim Kardashian’s daughter, North West, is just 12-years-old and recently caused a social media storm after showing off her latest piercing.
The reason it has gained so much traction is because it’s a ‘derma piercing’, which isn’t your typical body modification – especially in minors.
It’s basically a bar that goes under her skin below her knuckle of her finger, with a bar and a small silver ball on each end securing it in place. It’s quite popular for those who like to modify their bodies, but it isn’t without its risks.
People in social media comments have since been worried about the piercing and how young North is.
One wrote: “I get ear piercings but this is actually crazy,” as another said: “Let children be children!”
Many commenters thought North was too young for a dermal piercing (TikTok/@kimandnorth)
This prompted Kim to respond to a TikTok video on her and North’s joint account, @kimandnorth, simply penning: “It’s okay.”
Now, a doctor has spoken up and issued a fresh warning in light on her piercing.
Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, revealed to UNILAD that it’s a ‘risky’ choice for anyone to make.
He said: “Dermal piercings, particularly those placed on the finger, carry risks that can easily be underestimated or attributed to more familiar concerns.”
He explained that people can miss the ‘early signs of irritation or rejection’ and believe it is ‘nothing more than dry skin, a healing delay, or a minor knock to the area.’
“These symptoms may also be mistaken for an allergic reaction to jewellery, simple overuse of the hands, or mild contact dermatitis,” he warned.
The reason these piercings are so risky when on a finger is because it is ‘vulnerable’ to things like ‘snagging, pressure and constant movement, making complications far more likely’, said the expert.
Despite being just 12, North West is very experimental when it comes to fashion and style (TikTok/@kimandnorth)
He continued: “The area is frequently exposed to bacteria through everyday activities, and even small breaks in the surrounding skin can allow an infection to take hold. Signs may include increasing redness, warmth, swelling or an unusual discharge, and these can worsen if left unaddressed.”
There’s also the issue of regular hand washing stopping the healing process, which can aggravate it.
While he did mention that there is ‘no conclusive evidence that younger individuals’ skin is more likely to reject a piercing due to age alone’, he said it’s mainly about the ‘placement of the piercing, the quality and material of the jewellery, and the standard of aftercare, all of which apply to people of any age’.
The doc warned: “Anyone experiencing persistent redness, tenderness, changes in the position of the anchor or signs of skin infection should seek advice from a trained piercing professional or their GP, who can recommend the most appropriate course of action.”
