Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Exposure after extractions

Hi, i am an esthetician aka skin care specialist. I recently had a client who had come in for a facial to have acne and clogged pores removed through extractions, which i do using a lancet and wearing gloves. After I was done cleaning her with an alcohol pad, I had removed my gloves to use a different device for the next part of the facial. I then noticed some spots that still had blood and i grabbed another alcohol pad to wipe it away, in a rush and not thinking. I was horrified to see blood had gone through to the back side of the alcohol pad that was touching my finger, although i did not see any on my finger. I had no open cuts or skin on this finger. I did not have immediate access to a sink, so i sanitized my hands with hand sanitizer. On the outer part of my hand, I had cracked skin on my knuckle, that I do not believe to be recently bleeding, I could be mistaken. Would it be possible as I was sanitizing my hands that I could have spread anything that was possibly there into the crack? This has caused me so much anxiety recently, and I am kicking myself for being so negligent. I do not know this person's status, but heard some stuff after this that made me uncomfortable, but they also did not disclose anything on their paperwork. Should i get tested and when?
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
You had no risk so an HIV test would be a waste of time. Any virus was dead so you wasted your time washing dead virus.
HIV is instantly inactivated in air and also in saliva which means it is effectively dead so it can't infect from touching, external rubbing or oral activities. It doesn't matter if you and they were actively bleeding or had cuts at the time either because the HIV is effectively dead.  
Only 3 adult risks are the following:
1. unprotected penetrating vaginal with a penis
2. unprotected penetrating anal sex with a penis
3. sharing needles that you inject with. Knowing these 3 are all you need to know to protect yourself against HIV. The situation you describe is a long way from any of these 3.
Even with blood, lactation, cuts, rashes, burns, etc the air or the saliva does not allow inactivated virus to infect from touching, external rubbing or oral activities. Doctors have calculated the risk from what you describe to be less than that of being hit by a meteor, therefore no one will get HIV from what you did in the next 40 years of your life either. The above HIV science is 40 years old and very well established, so no detail that you can add to your encounter will change it from zero risk.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community

Top HIV Answerers
366749 tn?1544695265
Karachi, Pakistan
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
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.