The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that three women likely contracted HIV while undergoing a vampire facial at a New Mexico spa, marking the first documented cases of the virus being transmitted during a cosmetic injection procedure. The vampire facial, seen as a cost-effective and minimally invasive alternative to facelifts, involves drawing blood from the patient’s arm, separating platelets, and applying them to the face using microneedles. Despite its affordability, this procedure poses a significant health risk if performed in unsanitary conditions.

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The CDC report confirmed that multiple individuals likely contracted HIV through vampire facials at the now-closed facility. According to CBS News, the report stated, “This investigation is the first to link HIV transmission with nonsterile cosmetic injection services.”

The report revealed that the initial case linked to the VIP Spa in Albuquerque surfaced in 2018, prompting the New Mexico Department of Health to provide free testing for individuals who received injections at the facility. At that time, the department announced the closure of the spa due to its investigators identifying practices that could potentially spread blood-borne infections.

What do reports say about vampire facial? 

According to NBC News, the CDC report reveals fresh information regarding the impacted clients and the spa’s procedures. The initial case involved a middle-aged woman who tested positive for HIV in 2018. She did not have a history of using injectable drugs, recent blood transfusions, or recent sexual contact with HIV-positive individuals. However, she did disclose receiving a vampire facial, as stated in the CDC report. The subsequent two cases also involved middle-aged women who underwent vampire facials in 2018.

The CDC noted that the spa lacked the necessary licenses to operate and neglected to implement adequate safety protocols. During their investigation, they discovered unlabeled tubes of blood on a kitchen counter and other injectables stored alongside food in the kitchen refrigerator. The spa’s owner, as reported by the health department last year, pleaded guilty in 2022 to five felony counts related to practicing medicine without a license. She received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

CDC and health department investigators concluded that 59 spa clients could have been exposed to HIV. Among them, 20 had undergone vampire facials. The unidentified source of HIV contamination at the spa is still causing investigation by the investigators.

The CDC advises individuals considering injections for medical or cosmetic purposes to inquire about the provider’s licensing and training status, as well as the FDA approval and reliability of the products used.

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