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What Are The Chances Of HIV Through Used Shaving Objects?

Posted on Sat, 6 Sep 2014

Question: During a haircut, my barber nicked my ear. There was a 'Pinhead's' amount of blood on my ear. Can HIV be passed from hair clippers? If those clippers were used on someone who had HIV that got their hair cut JUST before me, am I at risk of HIV or Hepatitis?? I didn't see any blood on the clippers and my barber assured me that he thoroughly cleans the clippers between haircuts. I'm just worried.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
The risk for HIV is negligible through barber shop

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Welcome to HCM.

HIV can not survive outside the body and body fluids not more than fraction of a second.
As soon as the infected body fluid got dried it ceases to be infectious to anybody.
There must be time in between two clients of your barber. In the mean time he would take few minutes to work on you. It must be more than few minutes. By which time the virus would no longer survive to infect others, even if we consider the previous client was a HIV positive one.
So the risk of HIV through an injury caused by a barber is negligible only.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (7 minutes later)

So no need to worry, right?

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Not to worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.

HIV transmission through this way is not at all common. So you need not worry.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (6 hours later)

Thanks! So no need for testing, correct?

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
A negative test would relieve the mental tension.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again.

Getting tested for HIV is nothing wrong. Seeing a negative (NONREACTIVE) result and ruling out HIV could definitely offers you a mental calmness.
So I would recommend a HIV test.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (37 minutes later)

Thanks. I just had a negative test a few days before this incident.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Repeat another test 12 weeks after this hair cut.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Repeat another test 12 weeks after this incident and get another nonreactive report. That will soothe your anxiety.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (5 minutes later)

Thanks, Doc! I think I'm just paranoid and over reacting.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again.
You are safe. Nothing to worry.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (10 hours later)

Thx for the reassurance! I'll choose to have peace about it.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You would be HIV free

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am very happy to hear confident words from you. Keep it up. You would be safe. If you don't have any more questions, you can close this conversation after rating the same.
Dr S.Murugan

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar