Hair Stylist exposure

[KennyinTO]

I am concerned re: possible exposure to HIV or Hep C. I went to a new hair stylist yesterday, a homosexual older man. While he was cutting my hair, he cut his finger. He seemed quite anxious about this. He immediately went to the staffroom with a first aid kit, and after about 10 min., he returned wearing a rubber glove on the affected hand. He then proceeded to continue cutting my hair.
I asked him if he would please clean the scissors that cut his finger also. He went to the staffroom, and returned after about 5 sec., with water on his scissors and said he already cleaned his scissors before. He then proceeded to finish cutting my hair.
I did not feel a nick on my scalp, nor did I notice any bleeding after.
Due to his anxiety about the cut and age, I wonder if he may be HIV positive. I wonder if I had a superficial nick that I did not feel that could result in infection.
Am I at any risk for HIV or Hep C based on this exposure? Do I need testing, as I am married and don't want to infect my wife or children? My internet search is giving me mixed results. Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help.  EWH

[KennyinTO]

Thank you Dr. Hook. It is a privilege to have someone with your reputation answer my questions on this forum. You and Dr. Handsfield are truly great and wonderful to take your time for this.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Correct, my comment also applies to hepatitis C. Please do not worry. EWH

[KennyinTO]

Thank you for your answer. I assume the above also applies to Hep. C as well as HIV?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  There are many assumptions incorporated in your question, all of which would need to be true for you to have acquired HIV or hepatitis C from the events you describe.  The stylist would have had to be infected (you do not know that he is), he would have to not be on therapy (therapy reduces HIV transmission almost totally), his first aid and clean up would have needed to be incomplete, your would have been nicked (without knowing it), and the nick would have carried his blood deep enough into your body to create infection.  If any of these were not present, there was no risk.  Further, even if all were present, most such exposures would not lead to infection.  Considering all of these factors, the chance you were infected is virtually zero.

In addition to considering the logical steps I've mentioned above, there is also the weight of experience. There are NO instances in which HIV is known to have been transmitted by any sort of exposure even vaguely similarly to the situation you describe.  Thus, my advice would be not to worry.  I see no reason for concern and no reason for testing . EWH

[KennyinTO]

I should add that I assume he was bleeding.