Can a Haircut Put You at Risk? A 22-Year-Old’s Shocking HIV Diagnosis

A 22-year-old man recently found himself in a scary situation that started with some worrying symptoms. He'd been losing weight without trying, feeling confused, and waking up in sweats at night. The young man was admitted to the hospital after experiencing these symptoms. Upon investigation, an MRI revealed multiple brain lesions, which pointed to serious neurological complications.

Further tests revealed the cause: he had HIV that had gone undetected for years. The virus had weakened his immune system so much that it led to these brain complications.

The man's immune system had been severely weakened by the virus, allowing opportunistic infections to attack his brain and cause the lesions.

Recently, Dr. Adiitj Dhamija, MBBS, spoke about this on his Instagram, he even added that His weakened immune system led to severe tuberculosis and a brain parasite (toxoplasmosis). This 22-year-old  likely contracted HIV from a barber shop where the same razor was used on multiple customers without proper sterilization.

After hearing about this case, Dr. Aditij and his followers on Instagram started to comment their opinions on it. While some stated that it's best to have a personal kit for grooming, others even questioned the diagnosis and spread of HIV.

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, spreads through certain body fluids. These include blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk. The virus can enter a person's body through openings like the vagina, penis, rectum, or mouth, or through cuts in the skin.

The most common ways HIV spreads are through unprotected sex and sharing needles for drug use. It can also pass from a pregnant woman to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. ⁽¹⁾

When it comes to razors, trimmers, or blades, the risk of HIV transmission is very low, but not zero. ⁽²⁾ For HIV to spread this way, several things would need to happen:

• An HIV-positive person would need to cut themselves and leave fresh blood on the razor.

• Someone else would need to use that same razor very soon after.

• The second person would also need to cut themselves, allowing the virus to enter their bloodstream.

While sharing awareness about the topic, Dr. Aditij also added ways to stay safe, such as:

1. Always insist on a new or properly sterilized razor at the barber shop.

2. Avoid sharing personal grooming items like razors and nail clippers.

3. Get tested regularly for HIV and other infections — early diagnosis saves lives.

4. If you experience unexplained weight loss, prolonged fever, or night sweats, see a doctor immediately.

References:

1. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. HIV Transmission. Accessed March 22, 2025. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/hiv/conditioninfo/transmission.

2. Quarm, M. D., Mthembu, J., Zuma, K., & Tarkang, E. E. (2021). Knowledge, attitudes and prevention practices regarding HIV/AIDS among barbers in Ho municipality, Ghana. SAHARA J : journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance, 18(1), 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/17290376.2021.1883101

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Iqra Momin/MSM)