In a shocking turn of events, a day spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been thrust back into the spotlight after a troubling investigation into its practice of ‘vampire facials’ led to the closure of the spa six years ago. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report detailing five suspected cases of HIV that were traced back to unsanitary procedures at the spa.
The New Mexico Department of Health uncovered the source of one woman’s HIV infection to a facial procedure at the spa in 2018. This ‘vampire facial’ procedure involves separating platelets from a patient’s blood and reinjecting them into the skin to reduce wrinkles and other blemishes. However, the investigation revealed that the spa was engaging in unsanitary practices, such as storing blood and injectables in a kitchen refrigerator and using unwrapped syringes.
Further adding to the severity of the situation, it was discovered that the spa owner did not have the necessary medical licenses to perform the procedures and failed to maintain proper client records. As a result of this negligence, the NMDOH tested all 198 clients on record for HIV in an attempt to identify potential cases due to incomplete client records.
The CDC report emphasizes the importance of regulating businesses that provide injection services and stresses the necessity of maintaining sufficient client records for traceability. In a legal verdict, spa owner Maria de Lourdes Ramos De Ruiz pleaded guilty to practicing medicine without a license and was subsequently sentenced to jail and required to pay restitution to those infected.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with unregulated practices in the beauty and wellness industry. It underscores the need for stringent oversight to ensure the safety and well-being of clients seeking cosmetic procedures.
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