At least three women in the United States have contracted HIV through the use of contaminated needles during cosmetic treatment. It is the first time that it has been officially established that the disease was transmitted in this way, although suspicions already existed.
This happened in a clinic in the state of New Mexico in 2018. The clinic performed the treatments without a license, the study stated.
Vampire facial
The CDC, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, investigated the clinic and concluded that single-use materials were reused.
The women were said to have had a so-called ‘vampire facial’. This is a treatment with your own blood, to remove superficial wrinkles or other small imperfections in the skin.
Research took a long time
HIV infection due to unsterile treatments is a known risk, but previous infections had not yet been officially diagnosed.
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The clinic was closed in 2018 after suspicions of the infections. It then took a long time before the investigation could be completed. According to the researchers, this was partly due to a lack of documentation of the treatments.
Former owner received 3.5 years in prison
The former owner of the business had previously admitted in court that he was guilty of carrying out the treatments without a license. She got 3.5 years in prison for it.
Tags: women contracted HIV contaminated needles vampire facial RTL News
