The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®: Vampire Facials: HIV in Pursuit of Beauty, Fentanyl Awareness Day, Marijuana Reclassification: Cannabis Restrictions to Ease?, Menopause Meds: A Safe Passage

The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine® is a pop-culture medical newsletter and exclusive benefit for 2 Minute Medicine Plus subscribers.

We begin by talking about the risks and benefits of vampire facials. Then we discuss the importance of raising awareness about the fentanyl crisis. After that, we take a look at the implications of marijuana reclassification. Finally, we go over new findings about the safety of hormonal therapy for menopause.

Vampire Facials: HIV in Pursuit of Beauty

The story: On April 25, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked three HIV cases to receiving “vampire facials” in an unlicensed spa in New Mexico. This is the first CDC investigation that links nonsterile cosmetic injection services to HIV transmission.

What is a vampire facial?

Vampire facials, also known as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) facial treatments, involve using one’s own blood, centrifuging it to separate platelets from other blood cells and components concentrating the platelets in the plasma and injecting them into the face. The idea is that this re-injection of platelet-rich plasma through microneedling will stimulate healing in the treated area and rejuvenate the skin. As such, it is claimed that it could help reduce wrinkles, and improve one’s complexion and acne scars.

Dr. Barbara Strum, a former German orthopaedist turned aesthetics expert, pioneered this skin treatment. Inspired by PRP treatments in sports injury, she adapted the same principles for facial treatments which gained popularity among celebrities such as Kim and Kourtney Kardashian.

Despite the claimed benefits, the efficacy of this treatment for skin regeneration is questionable as most PRP research has focused on musculoskeletal injuries and hair loss. Moreover, the heterogeneity of muscle injuries in terms of location, cause and tissue type poses limitations to these clinical studies.

Are the risks worth it?

Generally, PRP injection is considered a low-risk procedure and not associated with major adverse effects. Some possible but less common side effects include nerve injuries, bleeding, and infection. Since PRP is not considered a medication, it does not require the same level of clinical evidence as drugs for FDA clearance. As such, few studies have been conducted and regulations are not as demanding. There are also some unanswered questions that dermatologists need to work on such as the amount of PRP that needs to be injected at a time and the number of treatments for best results. As for maintaining youthful skin, prevention is better than cure. Since most age-related skin changes stem from exposure to the sun’s UV rays, sunscreens are the best skin care product to slow signs of aging.

Fentanyl Awareness Day

May 7 has been recognized as the national fentanyl awareness day in the US and it aims to raise awareness about the prevalence of fentanyl overdose and poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids dominate overdose cases. Every day, over 150 individuals in the US pass away from overdosing on synthetic opioids like fentanyl. We have heard of so many examples before: Anthony Durante, an American professional wrestler who died from accidentally overdosing on Fentanyl in 2003, the 26-year-old American rapper Mac Miller and the Grammy award winner American rapper Coolio, who both died from an accidental overdose of a combination of drugs including fentanyl in 2018 and 2022 respectively. Fentanyl has been around since 1960 in the medical world. It is a potent purely synthetic opioid and about 50 times stronger than heroin. However, its easy and cheap production in the lab has led to illicit manufacturing of the drug over time. Fentanyl is now mixed with almost all street drugs such as methamphetamines and heroin and found in fake prescription pills such as oxycodone, hence bringing the overdose crisis to a new level.

As highlighted in the 2022 documentary “Love in the Time of Fentanyl”, educating the public about overdose, reducing stigma, and providing resources for the recovery of those affected are important tools to combat this crisis.

Marijuana Reclassification: Cannabis Restrictions to Ease?

A historic shift is about to take place in the US federal policy as the Drug Enforcement Administration plans to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and have no acceptable medical use. Some examples include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. In comparison, Schedule III drugs are considered to have less abuse potential and are associated with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs include but are not limited to ketamine, testosterone, and anabolic steroids. This shift will not decriminalize marijuana, but it will facilitate cannabis research and significantly reduce cannabis business taxes.

According to public health experts, cannabis legalization since 2018 has not yielded health benefits in Canada, however, it has led to positive social justice outcomes of significantly reducing criminal arrests and associated stigma.

The cannabis debate extends beyond the legal system. In pop culture, cannabis has been portrayed from different perspectives. While marijuana was demonized in the 30s as depicted by the movie “Reefer Madness (1936)”, it became a symbol of peace and freedom in the 60s and 70s with the rise of the hippie movement. In the music industry, cannabis became a spiritual symbol as embraced by singer-songwriter Bob Marley in the 80s and 90s. Post 2000s, cannabis has become further normalized as seen in movies such as “Pineapple Express (2008)”. The evolving legal perspective on cannabis will continue to influence its portrayal in pop culture.

Menopause Meds: A Safe Passage

By 2025, the global population of postmenopausal women is expected to reach 1.1 billion. Despite spending about one-third of their lives in this phase, many women feel uncomfortable discussing menopause-related issues openly. In a UK survey by the Fawcett Society, over 4000 perimenopausal and menopausal women revealed that 45% had not discussed their symptoms with their primary care provider, and 31% required multiple appointments for diagnosis. Additionally, only 39% were promptly offered hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when their symptoms were recognized.

After the publication of the Women’s Health Initiative report in 2002, HRT usage significantly declined. According to this report, HRT was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and breast cancer. However, a 20-year follow-up published on May 1st, 2024, suggests HRT can be a safe short-term option for managing menopause symptoms in women under 60. Therefore, women experiencing symptoms during early menopause should not be afraid to consider hormone therapy, and healthcare providers should feel confident in recommending it.

Celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey, and Michelle Obama have openly discussed their menopause journey and encouraged women to explore what works best for them. Michelle Obama shared her experience with HRT and highlighted the importance of considering not only its potential drawbacks but also its benefits.

Menopause significantly impacts women’s health and quality of life. Therefore, it is important to break the menopause taboo to help menopausal women and improve their lives and working conditions.

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