According to reports from an Indian media outlet, at least three women have been diagnosed with HIV following a microneedling procedure known as the vampire facial, popularized by reality TV personality Kim Kardashian.
The United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that these cases occurred after the women underwent the procedure at an unlicensed medical spa in New Mexico.
The vampire facial involves extracting blood from another part of the body and injecting it into the face to promote skin rejuvenation, a technique endorsed by Kardashian.
The CDC’s investigation began in 2018 after a woman without known HIV risk factors was diagnosed with the virus, and she disclosed undergoing the vampire facial at the spa.
The CDC emphasized that while transmission of HIV through unsafe cosmetic injections is a recognized risk, determining transmission in individuals with no apparent risk factors is crucial.
Medical spas typically process the client’s blood to remove platelets and inject the plasma into the face to enhance skin appearance.
Monica Bambroo, the head of cosmetology and dermatology at Artemis Hospitals, highlighted that while cases of HIV transmission via vampire facials are rare, improper sterilization procedures during the procedure can pose a risk.
Dr. Bambroo emphasized the importance of thorough sterilization of equipment between patients to prevent bloodborne infections like HIV.
