What’s a Vampire Facial?

It’s October and therefore Halloween season! Ghosts, ghouls, and witches are everywhere you look. The airwaves are full of horror movies because this time of year, people are all about getting into everything that’s spooky and scary. 

Vampires are definitely a Halloween tradition. There is a certain romanticism to them. Movies or books such as Dracula, Twilight, and Interview with the Vampire all tell tales about these immortal beings and their lust for blood. And in a way, skincare is a roundabout way of immortality- at least when it comes to the way we look. We try to maintain a youthful appearance for as long as possible. But vampires and skincare have another tie in the form of something called a vampire facial.

The Blood Facial

These unconventional beauty treatments can be called blood facials, vampire facials, or more commonly, PRP facials. PRP stands for “platelet rich plasma.” In short, a blood facial is done by putting your blood on your face in the hopes that your skin will absorb some of the nutrients. A doctor will draw a couple of vials of blood, spin it in a special machine to separate the plasma and platelets from the red blood cells, and then put the plasma on your face. Sometimes they’ll even microneedle your skin to open it up for better absorption. 

For some, this is too gory. And others rush to do it, including celebrities who are posting social media photos of themselves covered in their own blood.

The theory behind vampire facials is that the platelets in the blood will stimulate the growth of collagen, the protein that keeps our skin young and supple. Platelets are what help with wound healing, so someone took that science and ran with it. 

Possible Benefits of a Vampire Facial

Sadly, there isn’t any evidence that it works as there have been no major studies done on blood facials and their effectiveness for anti-aging. But anecdotal evidence says otherwise. People who’ve had it done claim that PRP facials can do the following:

• Reduce the appearance of fine lines.

• Helps reduce turkey neck.

• Plumps up the under eye area so it looks less sunken.

• Fixes the lines at the corners of the mouth.

• Helps lighten age spots.

• No down time.

• Immediate results.

Even though science says it might not work, it isn’t doing any harm. The person getting the facial uses their own blood. And the technology that practitioners use to separate the platelets has been approved by the FDA for orthopedic surgery. The practice is safe and legal, if done in a sterile environment by a trained professional. 

Where can I get a vampire facial?

If you’re apt to try it, finding someone who will do a full on PRP facial it might be a challenge. It seems to be a trend that is losing steam and if you can find a practitioner, you will be paying a premium. A simple Google search shows that most who perform vampire facials are high end or boutique clinics.

It’s actually a little easier to find someone who will do the plasma injections, as opposed to the full blood facial. Plasma injections can be done for wrinkles and acne scars and there is even a small study that shows promising results. 

Potential side effects include bruising and there is always the chance of infection when dealing with needles and blood. 

Products that Work

Since there is a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of PRP facials, it is probably best to stick with what we know will work. There are many over the counter and prescription products on the market that are easily accessible to anyone. And you can get everything you need here at Qyral!

We take science based skincare to the next level by customizing products to your exact skin type. By taking our skin assessment quiz, we can help pinpoint what works best for you. And there are no needles required to see results!