Don’t let her name fool you: Dr. Pimple Popper, a.k.a. Sandra Lee, MD, does far more than just pop gross pimples. Case in point? Her Instagram post from Tuesday, where she features a slightly swollen, reddened growth on the top of a patient’s head that, per her caption, is a type of skin cancer known as “keratoacanthoma.”
To the average human (*raises hand*) this elevated bump looks threatening and, tbh, pretty damn terrifying if you were to find it on your own scalp. But Dr. Pimple Popper explains that this “squamous cell carcinoma”—which commonly appears on sun-exposed areas of the body, according to American Cancer Society—is actually “not life threatening at this size but can certainly grow rather quickly and can therefore be scary to the patient.” You’ve got that right, Dr. P!
In pure Dr. Pimple Popper fashion, the second photo takes gore to a whole new level, showing a seemingly gaping, bloody hole that’s exposing the mushy flesh typically hiding under the patient’s skin. BRB, gagging, but also can’t. look. away.
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A keratoacanthoma is a type of skin cancer, a squamous cell carcinoma, which is not life threatening at this size but can certainly grow rather quickly and can therefore be scary to the patient. I did Mohs micrographic skin cancer surgery on this area to ensure complete removal and sutured the area to create a linear scar (primary closure). He healed really well from it- can hardly see the scar! ✌🏻❤️💥#transformationtuesday #drpimplepopper
A post shared by Sandra Lee, MD, FAAD, FAACS (@drpimplepopper) on
The reason for this crater? Dr. Pimple Popper’s caption explains: “I did Mohs micrographic skin cancer surgery on this area to ensure complete removal and sutured the area to create a linear scar (primary closure).”
And this all makes sense as you click through the next two images, which show some stunning stitch work (way to go, Dr. Pimple Popper!) and then a fully-healed scalp where you can barely see the scar. Very much a “#TransformationTuesday,” per her caption, indeed.
Is it really that bad to pop a pimple?
While there are always some very loud haters on social media, lots of the comments on Dr. Pimple Popper’s post are applauding her A+ job: “Amazing work as always,” “Wow. Nicely done,” “OMGGGG!!!!! You are a miracle worker!!!!”
The derm did help the patient curb the cancer from potentially getting worse and/or spreading. But the patient also played a key part here too by seeking medical attention.
So, if mystery Mohs man teaches you anything (in addition to what the inside of your scalp might look like) it should be this: pay attention to your body. If you see or feel anything that doesn’t look, well, right or feels different, get it checked out. Derms like Dr. Pimple Popper know best, so it never hurts to get their eyes on whatever’s caught your attention as well.
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