Recognizing Rejection of Dermal Anchors

How to Tell If Your Dermal Piercing Is Rejecting — and What You Can Do About It

Dermal anchors are one of the most creative ways to wear body jewelry. They sit flat against your skin, with a tiny base under the surface, which means you can wear them just about anywhere — collarbone, cheek, even your lower back.

But here’s the thing: they don’t always stay put.

Sometimes, your body decides it’s not okay with the jewelry being there. That’s called rejection. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong — it’s just your skin trying to protect itself. The trick is spotting the signs early so you can handle it before it turns into a bigger issue.

Is Something Off? Here's What to Look For

During healing, a little redness or tenderness is normal. But if things start to feel or look worse instead of better, that’s when you should pay attention.

Here are a few visual signs your dermal might be rejecting:

• The skin around it turns red, purple, or dull gray
• It looks swollen again, even if it had calmed down before
• You’re seeing more of the metal base than before — almost like it’s rising up
• The skin looks thinner or like it's being pulled too tight over the jewelry
• One side of the piercing is lifting or sinking more than the other

Let’s say you’ve had a dermal on your chest for a few months, and it’s been fine. Then one day, it looks like the anchor is sticking out more than usual. That’s a red flag. Don’t brush it off. Keep an eye on it and consider checking in with a piercer.

Even a 10-second daily mirror check can make a difference.

Feeling Weird? Trust That Too

Rejection doesn’t just show up in the mirror — sometimes, you feel it first. A bit of itching or tenderness early on is totally normal. But if that discomfort lingers or gets worse, that could be your body giving you a heads-up.

Here’s what to pay attention to:

• A pulsing or stinging sensation that sticks around
• Yellow discharge or an unusual smell (could mean infection)
• Constant itching or dry, flaky skin that won’t quit
• Heat or warmth in the area that wasn’t there before
• A tight, pulling feeling from the jewelry

It might not always be dramatic, but small signs add up. If something feels off, it probably is.

How to Help It Heal (and Stay Put)

The best way to avoid rejection is to treat the piercing right from day one.

Here’s what really helps:

• Wash your hands before touching it (always!)
• Clean it with saline once or twice a day — be gentle
• Skip alcohol, peroxide, or anything harsh — they’ll irritate it
• Avoid lotions and perfumes around the area
• Stick to loose clothes that won’t rub against it
• Use high-quality jewelry — titanium or implant-grade materials are best

Basically, the cleaner and calmer you keep the area, the happier your skin will be.

If It Starts to Reject, Don’t Wait

If you see or feel signs that your dermal is being pushed out, act fast. Here’s what to do:

• Keep an eye on it — check daily
• Stay consistent with saline cleaning
• Talk to a trusted piercer — they’ll know if it’s time to remove it
• If there’s pain, swelling, or discharge, check with a doctor
• Don’t hesitate to take it out if needed — better that than ending up with a scar

It’s disappointing to lose a piercing, but taking care of your skin comes first. You can always try again later when things are fully healed.

Want jewelry that’s safer and more skin-friendly? Check out our dermal anchors collection at BodyJewelry.com. We only carry pieces made with materials that your body is more likely to love — because rejection is never part of the look.