How to Deal with Exposed Needle Tips

One of the risks of play piercing is the resulting exposed needle tip.

There are scenarios in which this risk is much greater and mitigating this risk is worth doing.

Here are the strategies for dealing with exposed needle tips, in order of my personal preference.

1. Bury the Tip

You can take the exposed tip of the needle and push it under the skin "again" so that it is no longer exposed.

• PRO: Does not introduce foreign matter to the shaft of a hollow hypodermic needle, which may be deposited under the skin upon needle removal.

• PRO: This is a bit safer than #2 or #3 below.

• CON: Creates additional puncture wounds to care for after the scene.

• PRO/CON: It is more painful for the bottom.

2. Cover the Needle with Something

You may cover a needle with an exposed tip with something like Tegaderm or some sort of sterile dressing to cover the exposed tip.

• PRO: Does not introduce foreign matter to the shaft of a hollow hypodermic needle, which may be deposited under the skin upon needle removal.

• PRO: This method can contain any blood that might occur from needle manipulation.

• CON: It can obscure the view of the needle or the needle tip, if aesthetics are a goal then this option may not be optimal.

3. Use something to cap the tip of the needle

It used to be common practice to essentially impale something on the exposed tip of the needle to cover the tip of the needle to avoid accidental needle sticks.

• PRO: Can improve the aesthetic quality of the piercing.

• CON: There is the risk that foreign matter could be deposited underneath the skin by being carried in the hollow shaft of a hypodermic needle.

• CON: Every time the bevel cuts through a material it is dulled slightly, this option will prematurely dull the needles.

  Common Materials for Option #3

  • Corks: Very similar to what you would see in a wine bottle, but much smaller. These can usually be purchased at arts & crafts retailers.

  • Rubber Laboratory Stoppers: These are tiny stoppers made of rubber that are used to close laboratory vessels such as beakers, flasks, etc. You will be looking for sizes #000000 (six zeroes) or #0000000 (seven zeroes) ideally. These can usually be purchased online from Amazon or via scientific supply retailers.

  • Pin Clutches: These are the devices that lock onto the sharp point of a pin to hold it in place. They come in many types, the most common used for play piercing is the Hat Pin Clutch which looks like a tiny cylinder. You may also use a Rubber Clutch similar to the rubber laboratory stopper above.

  • Cut up pieces of Hot Glue Stick: Hot glue sticks are very inexpensive and you can cut them relatively easily, and the needle will penetrate them.