BUST THAT MYTH

‘Vampire facials are good for you’

I don’t think so. Spas are offering vampire facials, using clients’ own blood and this is how it works: A vial of blood is drawn from the arm then spun in a centrifuge, which extracts the platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The person then has a micro-needling procedure whereby tiny holes are pricked into the outer layer of skin. Then the PRP is smeared on the face. The idea is blood platelets, which play an important role in repairing cells, can work their magic on damaged cells. But it is feared customers at one US spa were exposed to HIV and hepatitis as a result.