Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

any risk?

Dear Doctor,
unfortunately I am back again. Lately I have somehow managed to control my OCD but again it happend to me something that I simply cant put away. I was at the hairdresser, in the Philippines, the hairdresser was male so he was probably a gay. After I got the haircut, he washed my hair, what worries me is that I had some pimples in my hair at that time. He was quite vigorously washing and massaging my head with shampoo and after that he used a towel that seemed pretty dirty (it also had a red stain on it  that looked like blood and I also noticed that he doesnt use a new towel on every costumer ). He vigorously used that towel to dry my hair. Im unaware of the possible cuts on his hands. Im afraid that some infected fluid from the towel or possibly from his hands entered my open pimples through vigorous washing with hands and drying with the towel.
Is there any chance I could have gotten infected in this way or its just my OCD working again?
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No change in my assessment or advice.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Im really sorry to bother you again, but I just wanted to say that I had pimples all over my scalp not only at the back of my neck. I hope this doesnt change things. Im sorry for bothering again.
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, I understood that the pimples on the back of your neck may have been bleeding at the time of your trip to the babershop.  No risk!!!  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you doctor, just last confirmation, you did understand that I had possibly open bleeding pimples on my head at that time?

No more follow up questions I promise.
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the Forum. Thanks for acknowledging that these concerns might be a reflection of your OCD.  They are.

You do not know that your barber was gay, do not know that he had HIV, do not know that hte red spot on the towel was blood or if it was, from a person with HIV, etc.  Most importantly however, I can tell you with confidence that you cannot get HIV from contact with a contaminated towel, no matter what the circumstances or even from the scalp massage that he gave you, even if he did have HIV and sores on his hand.  This would simply not happen.

You can be confident that nothing you have described is associated with risk for HIV.  There is no need for testing and I recommend that you do not test as testing would just initiate another series of questions about the accuracy of a test that you do not need.  

I hope this comment is helpful.  To repeat, this was a no risk event and there is no need to test related to it.  EWH
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the HIV - Prevention Forum

Popular Resources
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.