'Vampire Facials' Linked to HIV Cases—What to Know About the Cosmetic Procedure

Three women diagnosed with HIV after receiving “vampire facials” are believed to be the first documented cases of the virus spread through cosmetic injections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last week.

The women received the vampire facials at an unlicensed spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The first diagnosed HIV infection was identified in 2018 in a woman in her 40s with no known HIV risk factors—her only potential exposure was to needles used during the cosmetic procedure.

After opening an investigation, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and CDC identified two more women whose HIV infections could be linked to the spa between spring and summer 2018. The spa ultimately closed in the fall of 2018 after an on-site inspection revealed unsafe infection control practices.

According to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, these HIV infections are the first ones linked to nonsterile cosmetic injection services and highlight the possibility of new HIV transmission routes in people without known HIV risk factors. In this case, “clinical and public health staff members might consider cosmetic injection services as a route of HIV transmission,” the report said.

Although the HIV cases linked to the spa seem to be an isolated incident, the news has raised quite a few questions about vampire facials and the safety of those procedures. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is a ‘Vampire Facial’?

A vampire facial is another name for a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) microneedling procedure. During this procedure, a client’s blood is drawn and the components of plasma and cells are separated out. Then, single-use disposable or multi-use sterile equipment is used to inject the PRP into the same client’s face.

PRP with microneedling is used commonly among dermatologists. “I use it a bunch of different ways,” Ife J. Rodney, MD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics, told Health. “I sometimes inject PRP into acne scars or areas with volume loss around the face. It’s very popular.”

“The goal of the treatment is to enhance skin cell function with growth factors in the blood,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, told Health.

While many licensed clinical dermatologists do vampire facials fairly often for skin rejuvenation, Rodney said doctors don’t usually refer to this procedure by that name. “That’s what the internet has patients calling it,” she said. However, you can also get a vampire facial done at a med spa, which may use that name.

How Did the Procedure Lead to HIV Infections?

If PRP with microneedling is done correctly, you shouldn’t get HIV. “Theoretically, there should be no risk of catching a blood-borne disease since you are using your own blood,” Zeichner said. “However, it is important that the procedure be performed by a reputable provider using sterile technique.”

According to the CDC’s report, federal investigators found spa employees reusing disposable equipment that was meant for single use. Meaning it’s likely that someone who had HIV had the procedure done, and the disease was then spread to others who were treated with that same equipment—which, again, should not have been reused.

The investigation also found unlabeled tubes of blood lying on a kitchen counter, tubes of blood hanging out next to food in a refrigerator, and unwrapped syringes in drawers and trash cans.

“It is important that your provider is using sterile instruments,” Zeichner said. “The tip used in the microneedling devices should be single use only.” But, if the equipment is used on one customer and then another, there is a risk of spreading infection, he said. The CDC has evidence-based guidelines around safe injection practices, which include warning against reusing the same syringes for multiple patients.

How to Get PRP With Microneedling Done Safely

Dermatologists stress that people shouldn’t be scared away from getting PRP microneedling procedures because of this. “But you also need to go to a reputable institute or dermatological practice to get your procedure done,” Dr. Rodney said. “Don’t just go somewhere random because you get a cheaper price.”

If you want to get the procedure done, Zeichner recommends making sure that your practitioner is using sterile equipment on you. “You should always be an advocate for yourself and confirm that all materials are new, sterile, and only used on your own skin,” he said. That includes asking your provider to open syringes and vials in front of you, and making sure that vials of your blood are properly labeled with your name, date of birth, and the date of your blood draw.

Dr. Rodney agrees that safety is crucial with this. “PRP skin rejuvenation is an excellent procedure and I have personally seen really great results,” she said. “But as with all medical procedures, you want to make sure you prioritize safety and efficacy.”