A "vampire facial" at a New Mexico spa has been linked to a new HIV case, state health officials said on Wednesday, years after the establishment shuttered.
According to CBS News, the patient's only self-reported HIV risk exposure occurred during a vampire facial they had at VIP Spa in Albuquerque in 2018.
The spa client tested positive in 2023, but the facility was shut down in September 2018 after state investigators found procedures that would have exposed customers to blood-borne illnesses like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Two more customers had tested HIV positive at the time of the original investigation.
How Did It Happen?
A patient's blood is extracted during a vampire facial, and then, using tiny needles, blood components are injected back into the patient's face. According to reports, the technique can aid with fine lines and minimize pore size to revitalize the skin.
The health department recommends getting tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C if you previously received any injection-related services, such as a vampire facial or Botox injections at the VIP Spa.
Health officials recommended retesting former VIP clients even if their initial results were negative after more than 100 of them were examined in 2018 and 2019 as part of the original inquiry.
According to the health authorities, new HIV infections have been found that have a "direct or indirect connection with services provided" at VIP Spa as of Wednesday. The department has not disclosed the number of people who tested HIV positive and has not made clear what constitutes an indirect relationship. CBS News has contacted the health agency for an explanation.
The Popularity of Vampire Facials
When Kim Kardashian shared an Instagram selfie of herself after getting a vampire facial in 2013 at a separate spa, the facial quickly gained popularity. Since then, she has spoken out against the practice.
Maria Ramos de Ruiz, the former owner of VIP Spa, pled guilty to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license in June 2022. She received a three-and-a-half-year prison term.
HIV is not spread through casual contact, such as shaking hands, hugging, or sharing food or drinks.
It is very rare to contract HIV from facials. The only way that HIV could be spread through a facial is if the person performing the facial had open cuts or sores on their hands and came into contact with the client's blood. This is extremely unlikely, as facialists are trained to wear gloves and take other precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
Overall, the risk of contracting HIV from a facial is very low. If you are concerned about the risk of HIV transmission, you should talk to your facialist about their safety procedures. You should also ask your facialist if they have ever had any clients who have tested positive for HIV.
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