Two people diagnosed with HIV after ‘vampire’ facial made popular by Kim K

A warning has been issued about “vampire facials” after two people in the US were diagnosed with HIV, following the controversial procedure.

The New Mexico Department of Health shut down a spa in Albuquerque in 2018 which was conducting the facial treatments, and has urged those who had a blood facial to get tested, according to the Albuquerque Journal. 

The vampire facial treatment – made popular by Kim Kardashian in 2013 – involves a beauty technician taking a sample of a person’s blood, and then injecting it back into their face.

VIP Spa, where the facial treatments were being conducted, was closed in September 2018 following an inspection which found there were issues in the sanitary practices of needles, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

The cabinet secretary for the department, Kathy Kunkel, issued a statement explaining more than 100 people who received treatments involving injections at the spa have been tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

"Testing is important for everyone as there are effective treatments for HIV and many hepatitis infections," the statement said.

Vampire facials are said to rejuvenate the skin by drawing blood in order to extract platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which is supposed to help improve cell turnover in the skin.

Kardashian posted a photo of herself with blood all over her face after having a vampire facial in 2013, but later admitted on her website she wouldn’t do it again.

"A few years ago, I heard about a 'vampire facial,' and I was so intrigued," Kardashian said, according to Allure.

Because she was pregnant at the time, the reality star wasn’t able to use numbing cream or have painkillers.

"It was really rough and painful for me,” she explained.

“It was honestly the most painful thing ever! It's the one treatment that I'll never do again."