Three people infected with HIV from cosmetic jabs at beauty salon in first cases of their kind, experts warn
THREE women contracted HIV from needles used at a beauty spa in the US which gave them “vampire facials“, health officials have confirmed.
Two were diagnosed with early-stage HIV, while the third had gone on to develop AIDS – the most severe form of the disease – by the time the illness was caught.
It’s the first time US officials have recorded cases of people catching the blood-borne virus from dirty cosmetic injections.
The VIP Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico, closed its doors in September 2018 after two clients tested positive for HIV following the procedures.
An investigation into the clinic found three women between the ages of 40 and 60 “likely” picked up the virus through “poor infection control practices” at the spa.
All four women had received vampire facials and developed HIV soon after, according to experts from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) and the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH).
HIV is spread via direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, according to the NHS.
The most common way to catch it is through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who is infected.
But it can also be passed on to an unborn baby during pregnancy, by sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment.
Two of the women were diagnosed with stage 1 HIV in 2018, just a few months after their respective beauty treatments.
This phase of the disease, also known as early-stage HIV, happens about two to four weeks after the virus enters the body and can feel like the flu.
The third woman received her diagnosis in 2023, four years after her facial – by which point the HIV had developed into AIDS.
Having AIDS means the immune system is very damaged.
The vampire procedures – popularised by stars including Kim Kardashian – involve blood being drawn from the body, usually the arm.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is then separated from the blood using a centrifuge before being reinjected into the client’s face.
The facials are not recommended for those who have hepatitis C, HIV or AIDS, blood cancer, skin cancer, or diseases that require taking a blood thinner.
The procedure typically costs between $1,000 (£770) and $3,000 (£2,300) and promises to reduce wrinkles, dull skin, and acne scarring by stimulating new collagen production.
The owner of the VIP Spa pleaded guilty in June 2022 to five counts of practising medicine without a licence.
According to the report, more than 59 former salon clients were tested as part of the investigation.
A total of five HIV infections were identified, but only three were linked to the salon.
A previous investigation into the spa revealed unwrapped needles scattered in the salon and unlabeled blood tubes.
What are the symptoms of HIV? And how do I get tested?
Most people infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs 2-6 weeks after infection
After this, HIV may not cause any symptoms for several years.
It’s estimated up to 80% of people who are infected with HIV experience this flu-like illness.
The most common symptoms are:
- Raised temperature (fever)
- Sore throat
- Body rash
Other symptoms can include:
- Tiredness
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Swollen glands
Untreated, HIV most often turns into AIDS in about eight to 10 years.
People with AIDS are more likely to develop diseases they wouldn’t get if they had healthy immune systems.
These are called opportunistic infections or opportunistic cancers.
How do I get tested for HIV?
HIV testing is provided to anyone free of charge on the NHS.
You can go to:
- Sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
- Clinics run by charities like the Terrence Higgins Trust
- Some GP surgeries
- Some contraception and young people’s clinics
- Local drug dependency services
- An antenatal clinic, if you’re pregnant
- A private clinic, where you will have to pay
You also have the option of using home testing kits you can use if you do not want to visit any of these places.