The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that three women were diagnosed with HIV after undergoing “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed medical spa in New Mexico, USA.
This marks the first documented cases of HIV transmission through cosmetic services involving needles.
An investigation conducted from 2018 to 2023 revealed that the spa, VIP Spa in Albuquerque, apparently reused disposable equipment intended for one-time use, leading to the transmission of HIV to clients through contaminated blood.
Vampire facials, officially known as platelet-rich plasma microneedling facials, are cosmetic procedures aimed at rejuvenating the skin by reducing acne scars and wrinkles. The procedure involves drawing the client’s blood, separating the platelets, and injecting the plasma into the face using needles.
Despite the popularity of vampire facials, which has been boosted by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, health officials caution that HIV transmission through unsterile injections is a known risk associated with beauty treatments.
While platelet-rich plasma injections were initially used for medical purposes such as bone grafting and osteoarthritis, their cosmetic use has become widespread.
However, such procedures are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for rejuvenation purposes.
The investigation into VIP Spa revealed unsanitary conditions, including blood-stained equipment, unlabeled tubes of blood, and improperly disposed syringes.
The former owner of the spa, Maria de Lourdes Ramos de Ruiz, pleaded guilty to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license.
Health officials emphasize the importance of undergoing medical procedures in licensed medical settings to minimize risks.
A clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford University, Zakia Rahman, said, “Having a medical procedure in a nonmedical setting, I think is the biggest danger of all. Having that discount or the lower cost is not worth potentially putting your life at risk.”
