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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Body Lotion?

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Posted on Mon, 29 Jun 2015
Question: Recently I visited one hair salon in Singapore – it was one of those hair salon that also provided body massage services, including hand and body massage by pretty and sexily dressed therapists.
I was given a hair wash and one hour of hand massage (decent service) – meaning, she used lotion to massage both my left and right palm/hand up to elbow region. After the session both my hands were having trace of the lotion, though the lady has wiped them clean. That was all I have been served – nothing else. Decent stuff, but I am not sure if those women were decent though.
After that I used my smartphone, my wallet and other stuff that I was carrying. I believed the lotion and whatever stuff that got transferred from the lady’s hands to mine, would have been transferred to my smartphone and wallet and others too, after I have touched those items.
Shortly I have reached home, I found my son using my smartphone. After this I was worried as I feared my son would have gotten some HIV stuff from the smartphone that has been touched by my hand which has been touched by the massage lady earlier. My son could have used his hand to rub his eyes after touching the smartphone.
Will my son contract HIV by touching my smartphone? I guess I must be overly worried and anxious.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Be rest assured there will not be HIV transmission.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

You may have heard or read about the fact that HIV is a very volatile virus. It cannot survive in an external environment for more than few minutes. When I say few minutes, it refers to maximum of 5-7 minutes. Therefore unless and until there is contact with fresh blood and other body discharge, HIV cannot, I meant ABSOLUTELY CANNOT be transmitted.

Hence in this context your fears about HIV from massage lotion isn't rationale. You can be rest assured that there will not be HIV to you or your family. So put your fears to rest now.

Hope this answered your question.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Prasad J (1 hour later)
Thanks Doctor

Assuming an item is tainted with lot of fresh blood contaminated with HIV, will it also take just 5-7 minutes only for all the HIV virus in the blood to die?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Blood dries up too...

Detailed Answer:
Scientifically blood stains dries up too. And HIV particles cannot survive in those environment.

Further, when blood stains are mixed in large volume of lotion the viral particles also get diluted. The resulting mixture is thus becomes non infectious. HIV infection is also largely viral load based. It is almost not possible to be infected with highly diluted solution.

So in all likelihood chance of HIV infection is null.

Fear of HIV is almost the same as being infected with HIV. So put your fears to rest. There is no chance you or your family will receive HIV from the described source.

Regards
Note: Get personalized answers to your HIV related queries You can choose to talk face to face with your doctor. Book a Video Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Prasad J

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 3708 Questions

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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Body Lotion?

Brief Answer: Be rest assured there will not be HIV transmission. Detailed Answer: Hi, You may have heard or read about the fact that HIV is a very volatile virus. It cannot survive in an external environment for more than few minutes. When I say few minutes, it refers to maximum of 5-7 minutes. Therefore unless and until there is contact with fresh blood and other body discharge, HIV cannot, I meant ABSOLUTELY CANNOT be transmitted. Hence in this context your fears about HIV from massage lotion isn't rationale. You can be rest assured that there will not be HIV to you or your family. So put your fears to rest now. Hope this answered your question. Regards