Albuquerque, New Mexico – Three women in New Mexico have been diagnosed with HIV after undergoing “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed medical spa, marking the first known cases of individuals contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure involving needles, according to federal health officials.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Report revealed that an investigation conducted from 2018 to 2023 found that the clinic in question had apparently reused disposable equipment meant for single use, leading to the transmission of HIV.
While the risk of HIV transmission through contaminated blood via unsterile injections is well-documented, this is the first documented instance of likely infections linked to cosmetic services, the report stated. Procedures like Botox injections and dermal fillers, as well as treatments like vampire facials which involve drawing blood and injecting plasma into the skin using needles, are popular in the cosmetic industry.
In the summer of 2018, the New Mexico Department of Health initiated an investigation into the medical spa after a woman in her 40s tested positive for HIV without any known risk factors. The woman disclosed that she had been exposed to needles during a procedure at the clinic earlier that spring.
Following the launch of the investigation, the spa ceased operations in the fall of 2018, and its owner faced prosecution for practicing medicine without a license. The importance of implementing infection control practices at establishments offering cosmetic procedures involving needles was underscored by the report, which also highlighted the need for improved record-keeping to facilitate future client notifications if necessary.
The findings of this investigation serve as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with cosmetic procedures that involve the use of needles and the critical importance of maintaining strict hygiene and safety protocols in such settings. As the first documented cases of HIV transmission through cosmetic needles, this incident raises awareness about the need for stringent regulations and oversight in the cosmetic industry to prevent similar occurrences in the future.