A dermatologist known as 'Dr Pimple Popper' has become an internet sensation thanks to her cringeworthy yet addictive videos of popping pimples, cysts, and blackheads. Dr Sandra Lee, who works at Skin Physicians & Surgeons in Upland, California, has gained nearly 60,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel by sharing footage of her patients' extractions.
Dr Lee, who also appears on the talk show 'The Doctors', started posting clips after joining Instagram, where short videos quickly garnered interest. She now uploads full-length clips, beginning with a blackhead extraction video in December that has received more than 360,000 views. 'I didn't realise how big it would be,' she told Racked.
Her videos have also found a loyal fan base on Reddit, particularly on a popular pimple popping subreddit. Dr Lee said she was 'floored' to discover her content being shared there, and described the community as 'really wonderful'. She offers to treat patients' blemishes in exchange for permission to film, and says 'nobody ever says no'.
Despite her success, Dr Lee does not consider herself a 'true popper' as she does not enjoy watching amateur popping videos. 'They all kind of gross me out,' she admitted. She categorises her own videos into 'soft pop' (blackheads and whiteheads) and 'hard pop' (cysts), with a 'best of soft pop' montage viewed over 500,000 times since March.
Dr Lee, whose father and husband are also dermatologists, uses an iPhone and iMovie to produce her videos. She emphasises the 'human side' of her work, aiming to show compassion for her patients while satisfying viewers' curiosity.
