ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Federal authorities reported on Thursday that three women contracted H.I.V. after undergoing a cosmetic procedure known as a “vampire facial” at an unlicensed spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This marks the first recorded instance of H.I.V. transmission through cosmetic injection services.
The trio was part of a group of five individuals who were found to have closely related H.I.V. strains. Four of these individuals had received a treatment known as platelet-rich plasma microneedling at the spa. The fifth person, a male, was sexually involved with one of the infected women.
The exact source of the contamination remains unknown. The initial alarm was raised after a 2018 H.I.V. diagnosis in a woman who claimed to have no behavioral risk factors. She had undergone a needle-based cosmetic treatment, leading to a public health investigation.
Upon inspection, the spa was found to have unlabeled blood tubes on kitchen counters, stored alongside food in a refrigerator, and unwrapped syringes in drawers and trash cans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the spa appeared to be reusing single-use disposable equipment.
Earlier this month, health officials announced an investigation into a series of illnesses linked to counterfeit or improperly injected Botox containing high botulinum toxin levels. Anna M. Stadelman-Behar, a CDC epidemiologist, advised people to ensure their provider is licensed for cosmetic injection services, indicating they have undergone infection-control training and are legally obligated to follow proper infection-control practices.
The controversial vampire facial involves drawing the patient’s blood, separating the platelet-rich plasma, and puncturing the skin with fine, short needles. This allegedly stimulates the skin to produce collagen and create openings for the plasma, which is applied topically to aid skin repair. The procedure is marketed for reducing signs of aging, acne scarring, and sun damage.
The New Mexico Department of Health launched an investigation into the spa after being notified of the unusual H.I.V. infection in 2018. Over time, four former clients and a sexual partner were diagnosed with H.I.V. between 2018 and 2023, despite reporting few infection-associated risks. The spa closed in 2018, but the investigation and client notification efforts were hindered by the spa’s poor record-keeping.
Investigators identified 59 clients at risk for infection, including 20 who received vampire facials and 39 who received other services, like Botox. In total, 198 former spa clients and their sexual partners were tested for H.I.V. between 2018 and 2023. Five individuals with highly similar viruses were confirmed to have spa-related cases.