Vampire facials may have exposed people to HIV and hepatitis

According to a statement from the New Mexico Department of Health, a spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico that offers "vampire" facials may have exposed clients to blood-borne infections.

The so-called vampire facial is a type of spa treatment that involves smearing the blood of a person on his face, according to Allure. Promoters claim that the treatment improves skin health and reduces wrinkles and sun damage. [Body Enhancement Nightmares: The Top 10 Crimes Against Nature]

The authorities inspected the facility, called VIP Spa, after one of its clients contracted a blood-borne infection that could come from a spa intervention performed on site. During the inspection, they identified unsafe practices that could put customers at risk.

The New Mexico Department of Health has since shut down the spa and urges all of its customers who have received a vampire facial or other injection-based treatment in May or June this year to submit to HIV, Hepatitis B and The statement does not mention which of these infections the client has contracted, nor what specific treatment the individual had received.

During a vampire facial treatment, a person's blood is taken and then centrifuged in a centrifuge to separate platelets or blood cells that help with clotting. These platelets are suspended in the blood plasma, which is the liquid part of the blood.

One of two procedures: Either small needles are used to prick the skin of the face (called micro-needling), or the outer layer of the skin is sanded (called microdermabrasion). Finally, according to Allure, platelet-rich plasma is applied to the face.

The statement does not mention what specific practices may have led to infections. But hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV can all be spread through contact with body fluids, including blood. The owner of VIP Spa also encourages her customers to get tested, even though she told local TV channel KOB 4 that she was still using new needles during treatments.

The spa license, however, was found to have expired in 2013 and has not been renewed, according to KOB 4.

Originally published on Live Science.