Hepatitis C from Sharing Cosmetics

Two days ago, I offered to do my friend's make-up for her. She didn't have the right color, so I used my eyeshadow on her. The only thing is, right before we started her make up, I helped pluck her eyebrows and some random facial hairs. Since I know sometimes these little hairs can make a tiny speck of blood appear (I don't recall whether it did on her or not, because I had a tissue in my hand going from place to place just in case for this scenario), we then covered her face in base powder/foundation, and then put on the eyeshadow. Would I be have a risk for getting Hepatitis C from her from an eyeshadow brush? She also used my shower and was on her period, although I don't know if there was any blood loss in the shower, is this a risk of using it after her or taking a bath? I would also like to know if she used my hair brush after her hair had been dried for a few quick swipes if that is a risk. I read on yahoo answers that you can get Hep C from touching an infected dollar bill, then picking your nose? Is that correct? It seems almost too far fetched. I know some people post awful posts like this as jokes, but I'm truly serious, Please answer me. I'm not trying to insult anyone, I'm simply ignorant and confused by much of the information about hep c that is on the net and I know people here really know what they are talking about for the most part. Thanks so much.

[bajawoman]

I don't think it is possible I did not infect my daughter and we have shared make up and razors and even by accident tooth brushes at times for 32 years  before I was dx so NO is my answer  baja

[Evangaline]

No , you will not get hepatitis c from a friensdusing your shower or hairbrush. I think it highly unlikely that it would come from sharing a eyeshadow brush, although sharing cosmetic brushes is very unhygenic and their are other skin conditions that can be passed on both from her to you and you to her.
Hep C is a bloodborne virus. You cannot get it from touching someone or their belongings. Without blood (hers) to blood (yours) contact, infection cannot take place. Families, husbands, wives, children all live together without co-infection.
Evangaline

[Rockerforlife]

You have a  better chance at winning the superball lottery.

[copyman]

see this is exactly how people think and why HCV has the stigma attached to it. a perfect example why more money needs to be spent educating kids about this disease. take some of that HIV/AIDS money and spend it on HCV awareness !!!
Magnum had a great idea in another post about sending emails to the FDA and it seemed to work. I think we should do the same thing and bombard the politicians with emails about awareness.

[Trish77]

I'm glad people ask the questions at least instead of harbouring these kinds of thoughts without investigating them so Curious4me, thanks for asking and please don't take the frustration we feel personally.  I'm glad you are looking to educate yourself instead of just perpetuating the stigma and remaining in ignorance.

I feel the same sense of frustration.  There have been a rash of these in here lately - the question from someone if they could transmit their OWN HCV by swimming in a pool with other people - that one upset me more because that person HAS HCV and is asking that question.  

It's coming up on World Hepatitis Day.  There will be different initiatives to highlight HCV for that specific period of time.  I hear this so often that focusing on the misconceptions seems like a good way to go.  Take care.

Trish

[Rockerforlife]

Why do you think the authorities dont go public with ads warning of the hepatitis virus and inform the public to go for testing?



MONEY...it will break the health system

[Rockerforlife]

sweep it under the rug

[R Glass]

I agree. This is how I see it. The Blood Banks were cleared around 91, the infected IVDU are mostly Baby Boomers (I didn’t say all). Most of us will be dead in the next 20 years (+-). Rather it is from HCV or other. There will be soon be a massive surge of Liver Failure The Government will show fake interest knowing the worst will soon be over. After the “Surge” has passed the only new HCV cases will be mostly due to IVDU and Unprotected Sex (Anal). At this time HCV will be linked with HIV and get funding. As for now it will continue to be “swept under the rug” to avoid (or should I say postpone) the soon coming panic and explanation of why there was never a Real HCV Awareness Campaign launched by the Government.

[Rockerforlife]

Who knows,maybe these HIV/HCV viruses were purposely intruduced into the drug using population to wipe them out...some even think its a wild experiment...i know this is going to sound weird....maybe aliens are using us all as guinea pigs?....LOL...nothinh suprises me anymore.....has anyone seen the "inside story' of the way the 911 actually happened....i do believe the twin towers were taken down by demoltion explosives

[JennyPenny]

Rocker, did ya see that black helicopter hovering overhead?

You're making me laugh.

[GreatBird]

Don't forget there are LOTS of people who got HCV from transfusions. Who isn't taking responsibility for that? I had a hemoglobin shot in 1971 for hep B before traveling abroad (which is what the WHO recommended then). Is that where I got it? The medical profession and government have some liability here.

[jdwithhcv]

I was about 12 blocks from the twin towers when the planes struck, and I saw them fall.  No demolition explosives there, just murderous haters.  Trust me, I was there.
jd

[Rockerforlife]

WOW...you were there...amazing...il never forget where i was and waht i was doing when i first heard about it...they say that about everyone....how bout all those documents we see and all the firemen police saying it was exposives?...documentries all over google on this too

[Rockerforlife]

Black choppers?....ALIENS IN CHOPPERS?....what galaxy you from?

[jdwithhcv]

I was working for the Manhattan District Attorney on Centre Street in lower Manhattan.  Had a court appearance that morning so I was in my office in the criminal courts building that morning, I went in early to review some evidence before court.  We heard the first plane strike, and I was on the street and actually saw the second plane strike the south tower.  All the cops and court officers responded to the towers, many did not ever return.  We walked out over the Brooklyn Bridge later that day.  

[Rockerforlife]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-0Ms7mId34

[jdwithhcv]

Tried to watch that clip but had to stop.  Its too much, seeing that again just takes me right back to that day.

[Rockerforlife]

Im sorry...but i do believe it was all set up by the CIA and Govt....3000 people to them is a small price to pay to control the middle east oil

[Bill1954]

You never cease to amaze, Ronnie...

[Rockerforlife]

I thought the 911 conspiracy was common knowledge..do you think for one second our defence system was taken down by a a few guyswith box cutters???...LIES

HITLER:

      “The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one.”

[Rockerforlife]

Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it”

[Rockerforlife]

“How fortunate for leaders that men do not think.”

[R Glass]

Before explosives can demolish a building the entire building is gutted. The explosives have to be strategically placed in the main structure along with miles of wire. At best, major sheetrock and ceiling demo would have to be done to install them in the proper locations. Let’s not forget the miles of wires. Who knows how long it would take to prepare both towers for demo if they were vacant. Does the Government have Elves that come in at night and magically does all of this work so none of the thousands of people notice? If all of this was done for the control of oil, how come we don’t have it?

[jdwithhcv]

I was frequently in and out of the south tower in the weeks before 9/11 and it was business as usual, no evidence of demolition whatsoever.

[Trish77]

So let me get this straight.  You believe the planes into the towers were a CIA plot, that the US govt planted fake "terrorists" on the plane and sent those guys to take flight lessons just to make it all look realistic, etc. etc. etc?

[portann]

Did you say you got a hemoglobin shot in 1971 before travelling? I got a gamma globulin shot in 1970, after travelling. Is there a difference between the shots?

That's my most likely source of infection but it's still a guess.

[JennyPenny]

My husband worked right across from the towers at 101 Barclay St., right across from WT 7.  I don't like to look at those pics either. But conspiracy theory? I don't think so.

[GreatBird]

I totally meant gamma globulin. It is one of my guesses on how I was got by the virus. I have a couple other possibilities.

[portann]

Ironic, isn't it? I came home from travelling, down to 85 pounds. Our family doctor, who lived across the street, was so panicked that he shot me up with everything in his black bag.  Turned out I 'only' had amoebic dysentery but may have got HCV from the gamma globulin shot. Mind you, back then, people even got gamma globulin for the measles, as did I.

It wasn't a conspiracy, though! Some might think so, judging by some comments in this thread.

[GreatBird]

My other suspicion about when I got the virus is a documented needle-stick from a nurse when she was trying to give me a shot (I hid under a table). It wasn't that much later (I think) that I got a "mystery illness" that they finally decided was amoebic dysentery. I'm wondering if it wasn't the seroconversion. OTOH, it might really have been amoebic dysentery.

I was really sick. I bet you were too.  

[portann]

Sick enough that my parents aged a hundred years. Yours, too, I bet.

I'd been 110 before setting out on my adventure, so yes, amoebic dysentery can sock it to you.

Interesting about the seroconversion.

[Curious4me]

Thanks for your clear insight and just plain being nice!

The internet says Hep C is so contagious, how is it not a risk if a tiny speck of blood smeared when the foundation when on her face, and then it was all over because of the pad application, and then I used my eyeshadow over it? With the tub scenario, if she had been bleeding from the menstrual cycle, would it mostly just be washed away, or would there be some left to infect me if I shaved my legs while taking a bath? I was just curious because of conflicting internet information. In my head it seems like even if it took 4 days, there wouldn't be enough to infect, but I just wanted an expert opinon, since people do live with people with hep c and I'm guessing they don't wait around to use the bathtub, or always clean it with a bleach solution. I've also seen posts where people say they lived with a person, but they never used the tub after them or a hairbrush, or let the people make food.... how would that be possible?
Please give me some insight, you are the nicest, thank you so much.

[fretboard]

It only takes a speck of blood if you use IV drugs with someone or if you do something that causes blood to blood contact.  Just living with someone is not a risk at all, if you take general precautions.  Just don't share toothbrushes or razors, Remember, blood to blood contact, that doesn't mean blood to skin contact.  I have lived with a few ladies, shared alot with them and none of them ever got HepC from me.  don't worry, be happy