Six years ago, a day spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico, made headlines when it was shut down due to its unregulated practice of “vampire facials”. This controversial procedure, which involves drawing blood, separating platelets, and reinjecting them using microneedling, was the center of attention as it came under scrutiny by health officials.
A report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed five suspected cases of HIV linked to procedures at the spa. The New Mexico Department of Health was able to trace the source of HIV infection in a woman back to a facial procedure at the unlicensed spa. These cases emphasized the importance of regulation when it comes to invasive treatments such as vampire facials.
During inspections, it was discovered that the spa had unsanitary practices, including storing blood and injectables in a kitchen refrigerator alongside food items and using unwrapped syringes. The spa owner, Maria de Lourdes Ramos De Ruiz, did not have the required medical licenses for the procedure and lacked a proper record-keeping system.
The investigation faced challenges due to incomplete client records, prompting health officials to test all 198 clients for HIV. Ultimately, De Ruiz pleaded guilty to practicing medicine without a license and was sentenced to jail, with a requirement to pay restitution to those infected by the unsanitary practices at her spa.
The story of the Albuquerque day spa serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unregulated cosmetic procedures and the importance of ensuring that all medical and beauty treatments are performed by licensed professionals in a safe and sanitary environment. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks involved in seeking out trendy treatments without proper oversight and regulation.
“Social media scholar. Reader. Zombieaholic. Hardcore music maven. Web fanatic. Coffee practitioner. Explorer.”