My beauty therapist just informed her clients that she was recently diagnosed with HIV

I was a loyal client of hers and I know once she reaches undetectable levels of the virus she would not be able to pass it others. 

But what about before? Do I need to get tested? She performed a lot of procedures wearing gloves, but a couple of times she would put on some product on my face (and I have acne) not wearing them. I am not sure if she was bleeding or not from a scratch on her hands or something (never paid attention to it, but doubt)

Anyhow, my question is do I need to get tested based on this new knowledge?

I routinely test for HIV (negative) and have just done it  2 weeks ago. Always stressful, so I do not want to go through it without the need.

Thank you

You or other customers of the beautician are not going to be at risk of HIV, at least not from any procedures that seem resonable for beauticians to perform. There has never been a reported case of HIV being transmitted from beauticians, barbers, or anyone who provides any personal services. (Not counting sexual services, of course!) Even without gloves, I see no potential for risk -- regardless of her viral load.

There was no need for her to inform her clients of her HIV infection. Infected physicians, including surgeons, do not need to inform their patients and most do not do so. However, I can understand the beautician might have felt otherwise. For example, if some clients knew and were likely to inform other customers, she might have thought it wiser to inform all rather than let rumors spread. But it really was not necessary from the standpoint of protecting her clients.

Finally, I would urge you to not worry about the biological reasons for low risk. That is, ignore whatever thoughts come to mind about such things as dryness of hands, cuts and nicks on either her hands or on her patients, your acne, and similar things. If she does not directly bleed into a client's open, fresh, bleeding wound, there is no potential for transmission. The important thing is not the theoretical possibilities through various biological mechanisms, but the simple fact that there has never been a case of such transmission -- after what must have been millions or even billions of treatments given by infected beauticians or other personal services personnel.

I hope this information has been helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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