Spa-Goers Who Got 'Vampire Facials' Now Facing HIV Scare

Turns out a ‘Vampire Facial’ isn’t what I thought it was. :-/

According to NPR:

‘…it involves extracting the patient’s own blood, isolating the platelet-rich plasma by spinning it in a centrifuge and then re-injecting it into the face.

…But the results are touted to be rejuvenated, smooth and supple skin, not an HIV or hepatitis scare, as clients of the VIP Spa in Albuquerque, N.M., are now facing.

Health officials say those who received the vampire facial there — or any other type of injection-related service — at the spa between May and June 2018 were potentially put at risk of contracting a blood-borne disease.

The New Mexico Department of Health is urging them to come for free HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing as well as free counseling.’

The goal behind the facial – concentrating platelet rich plasma (PRP) – is also commonly used in sports medicine, especially hamstring injuries:

The human body is composed of 93 percent red blood cells, 6 percent white blood cells, and 1 percent platelets. Platelets are great for stopping blood loss through blood clotting, but they’re also used by the body to aid in healing injuries as well as regenerating new tissue.

Because the body’s initial reaction to an injury is to send platelets to the injured area, PRP can successfully stimulate repair by the release of growth factors as well as attracting stem cell to the site.

However, a study in Sage Medical Journal says there’s no solid proof PRP really does anything, but it’s not harmful either (unless you go to a place like the NM Spa that bungled needle storage, handling and disposal – yikes).

Luckily for the biz that’s never stopped a trend from rolling along & despite the scare people will likely continue to get those treatments. Either way that’s a hard pass from me.