Vampire Facial: The unexpected spread of HIV through the popular cosmetic surgery known as a vampire facial has been brought to light by a recent instance. The event includes a woman and two other people who most likely got HIV at an illegal spa in New Mexico.
Understanding HIV and AIDS
HIV is an immunodeficiency virus that targets the immune system. HIV can result in AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) if it is not treated. As of right now, there’s no real remedy. This startling discovery, which is covered in depth in a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasizes the grave dangers connected to unlicensed businesses that provide both medical and cosmetic services.
Spa Shut Down for Licensing Violations
Due to improper licencing and disregard for adequate infection control procedures, the spa in question was closed in 2018. According to the Washington Post, its proprietor is presently incarcerated for practicing medicine without a license.
The CDC claims that after receiving a vampire facial at the spa in 2018, one of the former clients tested positive for HIV, setting off a series of events. Unsettling procedures at the institution were discovered during further examinations. These practices included the reusing of single-use equipment and the inclusion of blood vials without labels.
What is Vampire Facial?
According to one skin clinic, a vampire facial involves taking a patient’s blood from their arm, separating the platelets, and applying the mixture to the patient’s face using microneedles. Proponents of the therapy, also known as platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, claim that it can help rejuvenate the skin and minimize fine lines and pore size.
However, the CDC investigation stated that several individuals who did not have recognized risk factors for HIV were probably exposed to the virus through vampire facials at the now-closed institution. “This investigation is the first to associate HIV transmission with nonsterile cosmetic injection services,” it stated.