When Dr. Sandra Lee, a board-certified dermatologist from Southern California, began posting videos of skin extractions on YouTube four years ago, she never imagined it would garner her a worldwide following – and lead to a popular television show.
Now in its second season on TLC, “Dr. Pimple Popper” follows Dr. Lee, 48, as she removes life-altering growths from patients’ faces and bodies. In addition to pimples, she treats a wide variety of skin conditions, including lipomas (benign tumors made of fat tissue), cysts (small sacs filled with fluid, tissue, hair or dead skin) and cutaneous horns (funnel-shaped growths composed of compacted keratin). She remains active on her YouTube channel, where she has more than 5 million subscribers, and on Instagram, where she has more than 3 million followers.
“I never thought I’d be the Pied Piper of pimples,” says Dr. Lee, a resident of Upland, California. “People tell me they start watching the show out of fascination and disbelief but ultimately find it very moving to see patients regain their confidence after they have a growth removed.”
Her show has clearly struck a chord with viewers, or “popaholics,” the endearing nickname given to fans of Dr. Lee’s show and videos, who tune in to see her extract unusual growths – some of which are outright gruesome – all while maintaining her calm and friendly bedside manner.
“A lot of people have admitted pimple popping is their guilty pleasure,” Dr. Lee says. “They say my videos are relaxing and help to ease their anxiety.”
Beyond popping pimples, she says her show offers an educational component, teaching viewers the signs of common skin conditions. Recent episodes have featured Dr. Lee removing a benign tumor the size of a baseball from a patient’s forehead and treating a woman with hidrocystomas, small, hard growths, surrounding her eyes.
“Yes, the show entertains. But, more importantly, it encourages people to visit their dermatologist,” Dr. Lee says. “I want viewers to become familiar with their skin and see their doctor if they have issues such as persistent acne or a suspicious mole that could indicate skin cancer.”
To offer further education on the complexities of skin care, Dr. Lee penned her first book, “Put Your Best Face Forward: The Ultimate Guide to Skincare from Acne to Anti-Aging,” which was published in December.
“It’s a reference book people can turn to when they’re trying to identify a skin condition and need reassurance,” she says. “I cover the ABCs of skin care and take my responsibility as a dermatologist very seriously. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, and I want to give people the tools and knowledge they need to make good skin care decisions.”
All In The Family
Born in New York to immigrant parents – her dad is from Singapore, and her mom is from Malaysia – Dr. Lee and her family moved to Southern California when she was 5.
She says her interest in skin care began at an early age while observing her father, who is now a retired dermatologist.
“I remember going to my dad’s office as a child, and our house was full of textbooks,” she says. “I became intrigued with dermatology.”
As a teen, Dr. Lee experienced her own acne angst, making her sympathetic to the plight of those with chronic acne issues.
While attending college at the University of California,Los Angeles, she decided to major in biology and pursue a career in medicine. She then attended Hahnemann School ofMedicine (now Drexel) in Philadelphia, where she met her husband, Jeffrey Rebish.
Now, as the mom of two sons, ages 12 and 14, Dr. Lee says her boys already use her acne products – but only one will watch her videos.
Protect The Skin You’re In
In South Florida, where there’s an abundance of sunshine, it’s important not only to regularly use sunscreen – but to wear it correctly, Dr. Lee says.
“I recommend using an SPF 30 on a daily basis, even on cloudy days,” she says. “It’s also important to reapply it every two hours if you’re spending time outdoors.”
Also, Dr. Lee notes that people often don’t use enough sunscreen. Instead of just using a dab, she recommends using one ounce – about the size of a shot glass – and applying it to any and all exposed areas, such as your face, neck, hands, top of your feet, back and behind your knees.
“Some people believe they’ll get added protection if they use a sunscreen with a high SPF,” she says. “The truth is SPF 30 will block 97 percent of UVB rays, and SPF 50 will block 98 percent, so that’s only a 1 percent difference. Rather than using a higher SPF, it’s more important to apply the right amount of sunscreen and to reapply it.”
While most people are quick to don sunscreen when they head to the beach, Dr. Lee says it’s crucial to don SPF every day since cumulative sun exposure can lead to skin cancer.
“UV rays can also pass through office or car windows,” she says. “People don’t always factor in the sun exposure they get driving home from work or running errands throughout the day.”
Turning Back The Clock
In addition to preventing skin cancer, Dr. Lee says that regular sunscreen use can slow the skin’s aging process. Another product that does double-duty: retinol, which has been shown to fight both acne and aging.
“Retinoids reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen,” Dr. Lee says. “While retinol is available in many over-the-counter products, tretinoin is a prescription retinoid that is more potent than creams sold in stores.”
Although retinol is considered the gold standard for anti-aging ingredients, Dr. Lee says some consumers look beyond topical solutions for other methods of skin rejuvenation. For those hoping to tighten their skin or address sun spots or deep wrinkles, she recommends Botox (noting that a little goes a long way); dermal fillers, such as Juvederm, which add volume to the skin; and microneedling, a procedure that uses tiny needles to treat fine lines and acne scars.
“I like to meet with patients and learn about their skin concerns and the results they hope to achieve,” says Dr. Lee, who performs a number of cosmetic procedures at Skin Physicians & Surgeons in Upland, which she operates with her husband and business partner, who is also a dermatologist.
Since her show first started airing, Dr. Lee has had patients travel from out-of-state to seek her advice, and she has also started doing online consultations.
In 2017, she launched her own product line, SLMD. Customers can take an online quiz to determine the products that best target their individual concerns, including acne, dry or aging skin, and more.
“I always wanted to create a line of medical-grade skin care products that could be available to everyone, including teens who might not have easy access to a dermatologist or those without insurance,” Dr. Lee says. “I also want to alleviate the confusion people often experience when they walk down the cosmetics aisle and see a wide variety of products that all claim to be the best.” O
