Bloody good skin: The rise of the ‘vampire facial’

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, used in the “vampire facial,” is a regenerative medicine modality that can promote healing and regenerate senescent cells.
• A vampire facial involves extracting a small amount of blood from the patient’s arm and processing it to isolate the PRP, which is then reintroduced into the patient’s facial skin using microneedling or injections. The growth factors present in PRP promote tissue regeneration, collagen production, and skin rejuvenation.
• Patients should be advised to receive vampire facials in a medical setting due to potential contraindications, including worsening skin issues, infections (recent HIV infections have reportedly been linked to at least one spa administering this type of facial), and more.

Humanity’s quest for everlasting youth trudges ever-onward. The anti-aging industry is abuzz with innovative approaches, from unconventional-sounding therapies like snail facials and bee venom therapy to high-tech advancements like light therapy and oxygen facials. One such therapy gaining popularity is the vampire facial.

The vampire facial involves injecting or pricking facial skin to reintroduce a patient’s blood into their face, so it’s important to know there is a risk of blood-borne infections when administered outside the sterile confines of a hospital room. (In July 2023, NBC linked at least five HIV infections with a spa in New Mexico that offered the vampire facial.) However, when administered safely, vampire facials may help lessen the appearance of wrinkles, sun damage, or acne scars.

PRP: A regenerative powerhouse

Far from its name’s association with folklore and the macabre, the vampire facial is a fairly simple procedure pioneered by Charles Runels, MD, using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and microneedling.

Research has demonstrated that PRP contains approximately 578 distinct proteins, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Investigators writing in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal note that these bioactive components can promote the regenerative processes within the skin by stimulating stem cells and causing regeneration and differentiation of epidermal and dermal cells. These proteins also activate fibroblasts and increase hyaluronic acid production in the dermis.

Research reveals the ability of PRP to reverse nerve degeneration. It helps heal meniscal tears and alleviate pain from osteoarthritis. In senescent mice, PRP reduced signs of cognitive decline, indicating potential benefit in aging brains.

Vampire facial techniques

The wound-healing process is strikingly similar to the mechanisms that reverse or slow down intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging. Consequently, vampire facial treatments often combine PRP with microneedling, creating skin micro-wounds. The following are the most commonly used techniques:

• PRP can be applied to the face with microneedling—using a 0.25 mm to 2.5 mm derma roller, derma pen, or microdermabrasion—to enhance the absorption of the plasma’s proteins. Microneedling promotes angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, collagen synthesis, and wound healing, according to a review on microneedling.

• PRP is injected intradermally or subdermally into the face using an insulin syringe. Injection of 3 ml to 4 ml of PRP is used for the entire face, with 1 ml for each cheek, 1 ml for the neck, and 1 ml for the chin, forehead, and nose combined. Each injection delivers 0.01 ml to 0.02 ml of PRP.