In a groundbreaking report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first known cases of HIV transmission through cosmetic needles. This alarming discovery emerged after three women contracted HIV following platelet-rich plasma (PRP) microneedling facials, commonly known as vampire facials, at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico. The implicated establishment, VIP Spa, has since been closed.
PRP microneedling involves drawing a client’s blood, extracting the platelet-rich plasma, and applying it to the skin after creating micro-injuries with needles. This procedure, touted for treating acne and providing other skin benefits, became the unlikely vector for HIV in these cases.
Health authorities in New Mexico initiated an investigation in 2019 after reports of HIV infections among the spa’s clients. Free testing was offered to anyone who had received treatments there. The investigation revealed unsafe practices, leading to the spa’s closure and felony charges against its owner, Maria de Lourdes Ramos de Ruiz, who pleaded guilty in 2022.
This incident underscores the critical need for stringent regulation and oversight of cosmetic procedures to safeguard public health