what is needle play?
Needle play encompasses any kind of play which involves needles piercing the skin. This may be for kinky and sexual purposes, sensual purposes, or aesthetic purposes, and what it looks like can vary considerably. Other terms related to needle play include artistic piercing, play piercing, sharps play (which includes any play that purposefully breaks the skin), self-stabbing (solo needle play), or "throwing needles."
The most common uses of needles in kink include:
- Traditional piercing (in and out)
- Using needles to insert other items (such as rings, hooks, or wires)
- Artistic piercing, in which needles are placed precisely in order to achieve some kind of aesthetic purpose
- Creating pain/endorpin "buttons" by crossing two or more needles under the skin to create an area of heightened sensation
- Creating "corsets" by lacing string, ribbon or other materials around needles or through inserted items like rings and hooks
- Creating needle "zippers" by connecting needles by the hub so they can be removed all at once
The creative ways needles can be used in play are truly endless
common needle play activities
Playing with quills is always at your own risk, so please research as necessary so you can make informed decisions about your risk profile. The information provided in this section is intended as an overview of things to consider when determining if playing with porcupine quills is something you want to do. If at any time you think it would be helpful to consult a medical professional, I strongly encourage that.
Quills are not sterile, and cannot be sterilized without damaging the quill due to their organic biological nature. Quills can be thoroughly cleaned to mitigate risk. Needle Playground quills are thoroughly washed several times in soap and water prior to being dyed with non-toxic fiber dye, then soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol for one hour. The airtight vial has also been cleaned on the interior with alcohol. Another safety measure you can take if you decide to play with quills is to sanitize them as much as possible by applying 70% isopropyl alcohol to the tip prior to insertion, either by dipping or using an alcohol prep pad, and using gloves and sanitary practices during play. Dipping the quill in alcohol is recommended, as the barbs of quills tend to grab fibers from alcohol prep pads and other fibrous materials.
As tree-dwellers, porcupines have the occasional mishap and accidentally stab themselves or other porcupines. They have evolved a natural coating on their quills which acts as an antibiotic for them, but is irritating to human skin. Humans are mildly allergic to this coating, typically resulting in red bumps on the skin (similar to bug bites) for several days. They do not typically itch, but may. Antihistamine and/or antibacterial ointment can help promote healing and relieve any symptoms. More severe allergic reactions are possible, so I recommend having antihistamines and/or an EpiPen on hand if this is a concern. If you have questions or concerns about how you may react to porcupine quills, please consult a medical professional.
Marks are typically very small and disappear with healing, but it is always possible for scarring to occur whenever skin is broken. Depending on skin and personal healing time, marks may last up to several weeks.
Typical aftercare for a play session with quills is the same as for other minor cuts or injuries you might get:
- Manage and clean up any bleeding that might occur (this can be rare with quills, but does happen).
- Apply antibiotic or antihistamine ointment and/or bandages as desired.
- Avoid tight clothing or excessive rubbing for the first 48 hours and keep the wound site clean.
- Watch for signs of infection like pain, swelling, or excessive redness at the site. If at any point you think you may need to seek medical attention, please do!