At Least Three Women Were Infected With H.I.V. After ‘Vampire Facials'

At least three women were infected with H.I.V. during a cosmetic procedure at an unlicensed spa. This is the first documented case of H.I.V. transmission through cosmetic injection services. A group of five people had similar H.I.V. strains, with four of them receiving platelet-rich plasma microneedling at the spa. The fifth person, a man, had a sexual relationship with one of the women. The source of the contamination is still unknown. The spa’s inspection revealed unsanitary practices, including unlabeled blood tubes and syringes, as well as the reuse of disposable equipment. Earlier this month, health officials investigated illnesses linked to counterfeit or improperly injected Botox.