The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday that a defunct spa in New Mexico that was under investigation for possibly infecting customers with HIV through “vampire facials” has been linked to at least three cases. It was announced that
Last July, the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first case of HIV infection in a former client of VIP Beauty Salon and Spa (VIP Spa) in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico. He later recommended that he be tested.
Customers who received “injection-related services” such as vampire facials and Botox injections may have been exposed to blood-borne illnesses, the DOH said at the time.
The salon was shut down on September 7, 2018 following a state inspection, but investigators found that activities at the salon could spread blood-borne infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis. As a result of the findings, testing of 100 former customers continued into 2019. C.
Initial testing in 2019 found that two HIV cases may be linked to treatments offered at the spa.
HIV in New Mexico spas:New Mexico Department of Health says new HIV cases linked to ‘vampire facial’ at defunct spa
5 patients identified, 3 linked to ‘vampire facial’
Then, in 2023, the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health received a report linking injection services provided by the company to another person infected with HIV. The case specifically traces back to a treatment offered by the spa known as a “Vampire Facial” or “PRP Facial,” which combined microneedling and the topical application of plasma drawn from the customer’s own blood.
In response to this revelation, the DOH opened a free testing site. According to the CDC, five HIV patients were identified in 2023, including four women treated at the spa and one man who was a sexual partner of one of the four patients. was included.
All four female patients had received at least one microneedling PRP treatment at the spa. Two of the patients had more advanced infections, indicating that their cases were likely the result of infection before receiving treatment at the spa. According to the CDC, the other three patients had no other known HIV risk factors, there were no known social contacts between the patients, and the specific mechanism of transmission among these patients has not been identified. He says there is no.
The report concluded that “there is evidence that unexplained contamination that occurred at the spa during the spring and summer of 2018 led to the transmission of HIV-1 to these three patients.”
In total, the research team identified 59 clients at risk of exposure and tested 198 spa clients and their sexual partners between 2018 and 2023. Fortunately, no further HIV infections were confirmed, and no hepatitis B or C infections were detected. However, as the investigation is ongoing, free testing remains available.
Unlabeled blood, used needles found at spa
The CDC notes that while HIV transmission through unsterile needles and injection practices is a well-known risk, transmission through contaminated blood through cosmetic injection services has not been previously documented and is not considered an HIV infection. It noted that this is the first study to link non-sterile cosmetic injection services.
Analysis of the evidence suggested that HIV infection most likely occurred through receipt of PRP, particularly through microneedling or ‘vampire facial’ procedures, but the source of contamination remains unknown. The CDC believes the cause of the infection may have been poor infection control practices found at the spa during an inspection in fall 2018.
These conditions inspectors found included tubes containing unlabeled blood and medical injections that were stored in the kitchen refrigerator with food. The unwrapped syringe is placed in a drawer or on the counter, then disposed of in a regular trash can. An unlabeled blood tube sits on the kitchen counter next to a centrifuge and heated drying bath. Improper cleaning practices, including lack of necessary sterile tools, instruments, and chemicals.
Free testing remains available to former spa customers, and the investigation and public health response is ongoing, the CDC said.
What is “Vampire Facial”?
A vampire facial or PRP facial is a procedure that uses your own blood to rejuvenate your skin. This involves applying plasma and platelets from your blood to your face via microneedles or regular injections.
A traditional vampire facial involves a donor drawing a small amount of blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to extract protein-rich plasma, extracting platelets, and concentrating the sample to produce platelet-rich plasma (PRP). ).
This can be applied topically to the face, followed by microneedling or puncturing the surface of the skin using a number of small sterile needles. This procedure benefits the skin by promoting cell turnover and increasing collagen and elastin production, creating a smoother, more youthful and toned appearance.
Patients with deep wrinkles, volume loss, or other skin concerns may choose a vampire facelift or PRP facelift, which uses the same PRP as dermal fillers that are injected directly into the face.
We recommend that anyone considering these procedures consult an experienced board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for treatment. PRP treatment can easily cause serious health problems if it is not performed by a licensed medical professional in a properly sterile environment.
