Five patients with links to the spa had viral genetic sequences that closely matched.

Trendy, unproven “vampire facials” performed at an unlicensed spa in New Mexico left at least three women with HIV infections. This marks the first time that cosmetic procedures have been associated with an HIV outbreak, according to a detailed report of the outbreak investigation published today.

Ars reported on the cluster last year when state health officials announced they were still identifying cases linked to the spa despite it being shut down in September 2018. But today’s investigation report offers more insight into the unprecedented outbreak, which linked five people with HIV infections to the spa and spurred investigators to contact and test nearly 200 other spa clients. The report appears in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The investigation began when a woman between the ages of 40 and 50 turned up positive on a rapid HIV test taken while she was traveling abroad in the summer of 2018. She had a stage 1 acute infection. It was a result that was as dumbfounding as it was likely distressing. The woman had no clear risk factors for acquiring the infection: no injection drug use, no blood transfusions, and her current and only recent sexual partner tested negative. But, she did report getting a vampire facial in the spring of 2018 at a spa in Albuquerque called VIP Spa.

  • SeaJ@lemm.ee
    184·
    7 months ago

    “Vampire facial” is the common name for a platelet-rich plasma microneedling procedure. In this treatment, a patient’s blood is drawn, spun down to separate out plasma from blood cells, and the platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the face with microneedles. It’s claimed—with little evidence—that it can rejuvenate and improve the look of skin, and got notable promotions from celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian.

    Not surprising that an idiotic procedure is pushed by morons.

    • DarkThoughts@fedia.io
      39·
      7 months ago

      It’s ridiculous, but the true issue is the hygiene of that place where they had that done to them.

    • tsonfeir@lemm.ee
      10·
      7 months ago

      I doubt Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian went to a place with hygiene issues. it’s unfortunate that they push these procedures without communicating the risks

      • WamGams@lemmy.ca
        81·
        7 months ago

        Gwyneth’s HIV positive status has absolutely nothing to do with her natural living business, and any insinuation otherwise will promptly be met with a cease and desist.

  • hperrin@lemmy.world
    38·
    7 months ago

    This is exactly why we need strong consumer protections:

    1. Consumers are incredibly stupid.
    2. Providers are equally stupid.
  • Norgur@fedia.io
    294·
    7 months ago

    What even is a fucking Vampire facial? (I mean,.I can imagine a few things, but the places you can get those aren’t usually called a ‘spa’)

    • starman2112@sh.itjust.works
      252·
      7 months ago

      Take your blood, spin out the plasma, inject the plasma into your face

      Apparently this place thought that washing the needles between use was superfluous

      • JanoRis@kbin.social
        3·
        7 months ago

        I mean the shortened down article does not give that info. The ars technica article does give a detailed description though. The CDC Report only give little info on what vampire facials are. Since the shortened article description from OP does already link to the CDC report, the only point to still read the ars technica article is to find out how exactly vampire facials are done

      • Norgur@fedia.io
        55·
        7 months ago

        You know that the post is written like that solely for the “hahaha facial can mean something different and it’s smutty” joke, right? You… you know that, right?

        Right?