Edge play – what is that?
The term “edge” indicates already, that it has something to do with “borders” or “boundaries”. In BDSM, we speak of edge play when a type of play involves a certain safety risk for the body or the psyche. So, as the name suggests, it is an umbrella term for borderline experiences and border crossings. Playing on the edge of the abyss, if you like.
Edge play poses some risks of potential short or long-term damage or, in some extreme cases, death. Scars, infection with diseases or sensory disturbances due to nerve damage can also occur. You should therefore take a close look at the practices you want to carry out in order to minimize the risks – but you cannot completely prevent them with edge play. Edge play is also not without risk from a legal perspective.
Why do people do edge play?
Playing with boundaries can be incredibly exciting, the heady feeling of fear and danger serves up a hormone cocktail of adrenaline and dopamine that sends us flying. Few other practices require as much trust in the dominant partner as edge play. For many Subs, this is precisely the special attraction: putting their physical integrity or, under certain circumstances, even their own life in the hands of the dom. Edge play is therefore said to be particularly intense in BDSM or in relationships with a power dynamic. Not all edge play is equally dangerous. As with many things in BDSM, the perception here is very subjective.
Forms of edge play
Edge play is a collective term for a large number of practices that exist in a wide variety of forms and colors. The following list is just a selection of this very large field:
Breath play, or breath control, involves choking, strangulation, blocking airways, and more. This carries the risk of suffocation.
- Fear play: Playing with personal fears poses a risk to mental health that should not be underestimated.
Knife play: When playing with a knife, it can slip or be misjudged and lead to serious injuries.
- Blood play: Anything that causes the partner to bleed carries the risk of infection, deep wounds and scars, injury to arteries.
- Cutting: Drawing patterns by cutting out skin. There is also a risk of injury due to misjudgement or a lack of anatomical knowledge, as well as a risk of infection.
Needle play and games with staplers/skin staplers are similar to cutting, knife and blood play.
Wax play: Playing with candles or other heated wax. This can lead to burns.
Barebacking: The deliberate avoidance of safer sex, significantly increasing the risk of contracting an STI/STD.
- Branding: A lot can also go wrong when drawing patterns by burning the skin. Incorrect handling of the equipment, excessively high temperatures and the risk of infection in the days afterwards are just some of the many risk factors.
Urethral stretching using dilators or less suitable devices. This can cause injury to the urethra and lead to severe infections.
- Waterboarding carries the risk of drowning and causing trauma.
Rape play and games in general that fall under CNC (Consensual Non-Consent), as they have a high potential to cause trauma.
This does not always refer to specific practices; even supposedly harmless practices such as spanking and suspensions in Shibari can become borderline with higher intensity.
What you need to consider:
Edge play is characterized by often playing with factors that are difficult or impossible to fully control. The common SSC (Safe, Sane, Consensual) framework, where all possible risks are known and minimized as much as possible, is therefore not applicable to edgeplay. When one is aware of the risks and consequences and is willing to accept them, the activity is considered RACK (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink).
The psychological component of edge play is also not to be scoffed at. Anyone who plays with boundaries must be aware of a possible stress reaction of the psyche. Fear is one of the strongest emotions available to us, so it must be handled with particular care. As incredibly exciting and enriching as the whole thing can be, in addition to all the obvious risks such as the development of trauma, there can also be a severe emotional drop after the session.
If you want to play with dangers of this kind, the top priority is therefore: information! You must be prepared for all eventualities that can happen, know how you can minimize these risks and what measures need to be taken if your game gets out of hand. Be responsible and honest with each other. You should also have certain emergency numbers ready and dial the emergency number on your phone as a precaution.
Activities from this realm rarely occur at the beginning of a play relationship, as they rely on deep, established trust. A shared need, understanding of the practice, and the willingness and comfort must be necessarily present to accept injuries, marks, and scars. Without this awareness, consent cannot be fully given in its entirety. Thus, mutual consent and detailed discussions are just as mandatory as in other practices. Personal limits, set beforehand, might be accidentally crossed, as no one can guarantee, for example, whether a burn will fully heal or leave a scar.
