The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed the first-ever instances of HIV transmission through cosmetic injections. Three women were likely infected with the deadly autoimmune disease while receiving so-called ‘vampire facials’ at a spa in New Mexico.
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The CDC has reported the first-ever instances of HIV transmission through cosmetic injections specifically associated with “vampire facials” performed at the VIP Spa in New Mexico.
Three middle-aged women were likely infected with HIV while receiving vampire facials at the spa. The VIP Spa first came under examination in 2018 when a middle-aged woman tested positive for HIV.
The spa lacked proper licensing and was found to have unsanitary practices including storing blood and medical injectables alongside food items in the kitchen refrigerator.
The first woman tested positive for HIV in 2018 after receiving a vampire facial, despite having no clear risk factors for HIV transmission.
Two additional women who received vampire facials at the spa were diagnosed with HIV in years. Investigators also identified another woman who had tested positive for HIV prior to receiving treatments at the spa.
A joint investigation revealed that as many as 59 spa clients may have been exposed to HIV, with 20 of them receiving vampire facials.
The CDC addressed the importance of proper infection control practices in spa facilities offering cosmetic injections to prevent the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne pathogens.
The owner of the VIP Spa pleaded guilty to practicing medicine without a license and was sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison.
The investigation showed the need for regulatory oversight and enforcement to ensure the safety of cosmetic procedures performed at spas and clinics.
The risks associated with cosmetic injections has increased attention particularly amid an ongoing CDC investigation into counterfeit and mishandled Botox injections.
Vampire facials which involve injecting platelet-rich plasma into the skin, have gained popularity despite limited evidence of their efficacy.
The American Academy of Dermatology has cautioned against unsubstantiated claims and addressed the importance of proper blood handling to ensure safety.
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The VIP Spa in Albuquerque first came under investigation in 2018 when a middle-aged woman tested positive for HIV after undergoing the controversial cosmetic procedure.
This discovery prompted the New Mexico Department of Health to conduct free HIV testing for all clients who received injections at the facility.
The initial HIV case was detected in 2018 with the affected woman having no history of injectable drug use, recent blood transfusions, or sexual contact with HIV-positive individuals. She did report receiving a vampire facial at the VIP Spa.
Two more cases surfaced in the following years, both involving middle-aged women who underwent the same procedure at the spa.
One woman was diagnosed with HIV in 2019, while the other experienced severe symptoms and hospitalization in 2023.
The CDC’s joint investigation with the New Mexico Department of Health uncovered violations of safety standards at the spa.
Unlabeled tubes of blood were found strewn across kitchen counters and refrigerators, alongside food items and medical injectables.
The spa’s owner, Maria de Lourdes Ramos De Ruiz, faced legal consequences for her role in the outbreak. In 2022, she pleaded guilty to five felony counts of practicing medicine without a license and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
With as many as 59 spa clients exposed to HIV. Of these individuals, 20 had undergone vampire facials, while others received injections for services like Botox. The lack of proper documentation and client records had challenges during the investigation.
The “vampire facial,” a trendy yet unproven cosmetic procedure has gained popularity worldwide for its purported anti-aging benefits. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that there is little scientific evidence to support its efficacy.
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