Medical experts are warning that the hand and finger piercings worn by North West, the 13-year-old daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, could leave her with permanent scars, disfigurement and even affect hand function.
The warning comes after North debuted several dermal and surface piercings across her fingers and hands, prompting widespread debate on social media over whether such body modifications are appropriate for a teenager.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey Hartman said hand piercings are significantly riskier than conventional ear piercings because of the complex anatomy of the hand, which contains tendons, nerves and blood vessels.
"Just don't do it," Hartman said, warning that the procedure can lead to hypertrophic scarring, hyperpigmentation, disfigurement and, in severe cases, reduced hand function.
According to the dermatologist, dermal and surface piercings are more prone to rejection, where the body pushes the jewellery out as a foreign object. This can result in pain, tissue damage and permanent scarring, particularly if the jewellery is removed improperly.
Experts also caution that the hands are constantly exposed to friction, dirt and frequent movement, increasing the likelihood of infection, delayed healing and trauma to the piercing site. Professional piercers have similarly advised against finger and hand piercings because of the high risk of complications.
North's piercings have been defended by her mother, Kim Kardashian, who has previously said she supports her daughter's creativity and self-expression. However, Hartman believes permanent body modifications should ideally be postponed until adulthood, when individuals are better able to understand the long-term risks involved.
It remains unclear how many of North's hand piercings are permanent, although some observers have noted visible marks suggesting that at least some of them are genuine.
