Potentially dangerous vampire facials and vitamin IV treatments only grow in popularity despite safety concerns
- Kim Kardashian and Bar Rafaeli are part of a celebrity contingent that have tried the facial, which uses a client’s own blood to rejuvenate his or her skin
- However, this growing cosmetic trend, which is banned in Singapore, comes at a risk
Hollywood celebrities have made “vampire facials” and vitamin intravenous drips super popular of late, but these skin-enhancing treatments may not be as harmless as they seem.
In April, it was reported that two people in the United States contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after undergoing what is commonly known as a vampire facial.
Also called a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) facial, this procedure involves using the client’s own blood to rejuvenate his or her skin.
The blood is drawn, processed in a centrifuge to separate the plasma – which contains platelets and growth factors – before being injected into the face using micro-needles. Some places may combine the plasma with cosmetic fillers to boost its skin-rejuvenating effects.
The skin treatment was made popular by Hollywood celebrities such as reality television star Kim Kardashian West and Israeli supermodel Bar Rafaeli.
