The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported the first documented cases of HIV transmission through a cosmetic procedure involving needles, specifically “vampire facials,” at an unlicensed medical spa in New Mexico. According to the CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Report, three women were diagnosed with HIV following treatments at the spa, which reused disposable equipment intended for single use. This revelation highlights the significant risks of unregulated cosmetic procedures.
The investigation into the spa, initiated by the New Mexico Department of Health in the summer of 2018, began after a woman in her 40s tested positive for HIV with no other known risk factors. She had undergone a vampire facial at the spa earlier that year. The procedure involves drawing blood, separating its plasma, and reinjecting it into the face with microneedles to rejuvenate the skin. The spa was shut down in the fall of 2018 following these findings, and the owner was prosecuted for practicing medicine without a license.
Health officials have emphasized the importance of adhering to strict infection control practices in establishments offering cosmetic treatments involving needles. The CDC’s report serves as a crucial reminder of the dangers associated with inadequate hygiene standards in beauty treatments and underscores the necessity for improved record-keeping to facilitate contact tracing and ensure client safety.
Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright
