Doctors appalled by North West’s new body modification warn parents to stop children from chasing the dangerous fad
Kim Kardashian’s eldest daughter, North West stepped out in New York City on Tuesday sporting her signature look — long, green-blue hair and black platform shoes — but it was her new body modification that is raising concerns among fans and physicians alike.
The 12-year-old was first spotted with at last one piercing on the top of her right-hand middle finger while touring Rome with her famous mother in August.
The silver jewelry — implanted between the knuckle at the base of her finger and the middle knuckle — appears to be a single piece with two entry points. Earlier this month, West shared pictures of the piercing process on TikTok, showing a needle running through her skin.
‘As a physician, I find it my duty to advise anyone against such aggressive piercings, especially for minors,’ Dr Tanya Kormeili, a Board-certified dermatologist in Santa Monica, California, told the Daily Mail.
‘The hand is a very sensitive area, full of a dense network of sensory nerves, arteries and veins. The tendons run extremely close to the skin. This makes the chance of injury very high,’ Dr Kormeili said.
Medical professionals point out that people are constantly using their hands for everyday tasks, increasing the risk of a finger piercing being accidentally caught on something potentially tearing the tissue of the finger. Any trauma to the piercing site may prolong the healing process and cause additional harm, like infection.
Adding to the potential peril, the hands are in constant contact with germs, doctors warn.
A piercing on the finger is repeatedly exposed to bacteria from doorknobs, food, phones and pets, heightening the infection risk. Additionally, minors are still developing proper hygiene habits, Dr Kormeil warned, and may be less diligent about washing their hands.
‘There are risks of infection associated with this type of piercing,’ Kormeili cautioned. ‘Remember that you use your hands all the time to handle the outside world, from wiping yourself, to cleaning your house.’
Kim Kardashian’s eldest daughter, North West stepped out in New York City on Tuesday sporting her signature look — long, green-blue hair and black platform shoes — but it was her new body modification that is raising concerns with fans and physicians alike
The 12-year-old trendsetter was first spotted in an eye-catching new look – long, green-blue hair and black platform combat boots – while touring Rome with her mother in August
The silver jewelry – implanted between the knuckle at the base of her finger and the middle knuckle – appears to be a single piece with two entry points
Infections in the hands can also be particularly serious because of what physicians call compartment syndrome.
‘If you get a massive infection in your hand, it can swell – and the swelling stays in the hand compartment and can literally strangulate the other tissues due to poor perfusion [the process of delivering oxygenated blood from the circulatory system to tissues],’ she explained.
In this way, compartment syndrome can also lead to severe, full-body infections or the transmission of blood-borne illnesses like hepatitis C, a dangerous and often hidden virus that attacks the liver.
The blood-borne disease hepatitis C can cause both short-term illness and a chronic infection that dramatically raises the risk of fatal liver cirrhosis and cancer.
‘Given [the infection’s] proximity to vascular tissue, infection can easily travel through the blood and cause sepsis,’ Kormeili said.
‘If you happen to have a heart condition, you are at risk of endocarditis [life-threatening infection of the heart’s inner lining or valves.]’
Sepsis occurs when an infection at the piercing site enters the bloodstream, triggering an overwhelming inflammatory response throughout the entire body. Sepsis can lead to organ failure, septic shock and death if not treated immediately with powerful intravenous antibiotics and hospital care.
‘As a physician, I find it my duty to advise anyone against such aggressive piercings, especially for minors,’ said Dr Tanya Kormeili, a Board-certified dermatologist
Another potential consequence of this type of piercing is infection by Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), which is caused by toxins released by specific strains of bacteria, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus.
The bacteria can infiltrate the piercing site and release toxins into the bloodstream, causing a rapid onset of high fever, a sunburn-like rash, low blood pressure and multiple organ failure.
‘Given such risk, why would anyone do this, especially at the age of 12?’ Kormeili asked.
Finally, when the jewelry is implanted in an area of high movement and tension, like a finger, the body constantly works to push it out as it would a splinter in the foot.
It can take anywhere from about two months to several years for the body to accept the presence of a foreign object in such a sensitive area. And until that time, infection is a risk.
‘We all want to be “cool” and be “noticed” and feel unique,’ concluded Dr Kormeili, ‘but as parents, we need protect our youth against fads and, simply put, bad ideas.’
