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Can you get hiv from a cut?

Ok, I went to this hair salon and the hair stylist carelessly made a small cut on my ear, I didn’t notice it until I went home. Can I get hiv from it? Cause I heard that you could get hiv from something like that. Im really worried now.

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Answer #1

I did a research and found an exact answer to your question:

Q. Could you please tell me how long does the HIV virus survive once it is exposed to air? I have the fear that man/woman are more vulnerable to the disease. For instance, if the skin gets cut in a hair dressing saloon, though the barber uses a new blade, but he wipes the cut with a towel which has been used by many others - could it turn out to be fatal? Please let me know whether the virus enters the body from the cuts and the maximum time the virus survives once it is exposed to air.

A. The chance of getting an infection from a barber shop is very, very low. I once calculated the odds and there was a very, very small chance of infection from a barber shop. Of course it makes since to ensure that only a new razor blade is used for each person.

In the context of your specific queries, the virus lives a very short while outside the body. As a general rough and ready guide you can assume, especially for a small amount of blood, that the virus is only viable for the time that the blood remains liquid. After drying out, the virus soon dies – the time is not in days but in minutes.

Yes, a person can get infected from a cut or wound but only if viable virus enters his blood stream through the break in the skin.

Please always remember that while it is best to take all precautions, HIV is not very infectious and does not get transmitted by casual contact. Even when a non-infected man has unprotected intercourse with an infected woman, the chance of infection is 1% or less. This does not mean that you can afford to take any chances – the low infectivity will be no consolation to a person who does get infected. Casual daily life exposure to infected persons can be assumed to be safe.

http://www.doctorndtv.com/faq/detailfaq.asp?id=2612

Answer #2

Hi Bin,

The chances of you getting HIV from a cut to the ear is very, very low. It would be a risk if the scissors were bloody from someone else even before he/she started cutting your hair. There would have to have been an exchange of bodily fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluid) for transmission to happen. Assuming the pair of scissors did have traces of body fluids on it, the amount is negligible I think. Try to relax.

If you are really worried about it, I suggest you get an HIV antibody test in 6-8 weeks from the time of the exposure.

Or, depending on when this happened, go to your doctor as soon as possible and seek his advice, and ask him about PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis). PEP is a course of drugs started as soon as possible after a possible exposure to HIV infection. It is thought that PEP may reduce the risk of HIV infection occurring after exposure to HIV infection. Exposure can result from unprotected sex or a broken condom with a partner who is HIV positive, sharing drug injecting equipment or ‘needlestick’ injury.

PEP should be started as soon as possible following exposure, preferably within 1–2 hours, and certainly within 24–72 hours of exposure. PEP is available from hospital emergency departments outside normal business hours. (http://www.aidsaction.org.au/content/hiv_sti_health/testing/hiv_antibody_test.php)

Answer #3

Yes you could…but very unlikely

I mean… it would have to be somthing ike 0.001% chance or somthing…

if your worrie about having your hair cut again…buy your own scissors and let the hair dresser use them

Answer #4

Thanks you all, especially mysterywolf, you make me feel much better now:). and on the day itself, it was raining so I dont think many people went for a haircut. But how long hiv virus can survive outside the body?

Answer #5

I cant!

Answer #6

only if the other person spilled blood. as if the other person was bleeding and you got cut and that blood got in you.

this is why people say. don’t share needles of stuff.

yet. I’m not all so sure on all the details

Answer #7

if there was no contact of blood or bodily fluids from the person who cut you no you cant get HIV or AIDS

Answer #8

yes

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