Zit Popping VideosAre Racking Up Serious Likes, Here's What's Beneath the Trend

 

 

 

 

 

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Swipe to not only see some CLEAR skin, but also an amazing message we received on @slmdskincare ??❤️ As a skin condition, Acne is NOT life threatening. However it can really affect our confidence and it makes me so proud and happy to hear many of YOU gaining that confidence back ?? When I formulated this Acne System, I knew these products would WORK but I am so humbled by how many of you popaholics have trusted me and SLMD to be a part of your skincare journey! You guys made this all possible and I can’t wait to show you the solutions I am working on next. ?Shown in these photos are results using the @slmdskincare Acne System... direct link is in my bio! ✌?❤️?

A post shared by Sandra Lee, MD, FAAD, FAACS (@drpimplepopper) on Sep 4, 2018 at 3:45pm PDT

IN THE DARK CORNERS of YouTube and Reddit, acne is having a moment. Type in blackheads and enter
a black hole of extraction videos. Some of these homemade films have racked up several million views. But when Cali-based derm Sandra Lee hit the scene in 2014, amateur hour was clearly over. Known as Dr Pimple Popper, Dr Lee’s high-def clips have amassed 1.6 mil Insta followers. So what’s the draw?

Bonding Over Blemishes

Sometimes seeing something icky—but authentic—can make you feel better about yourself. “It’s exciting to see others participate in behaviour that is usually seen as gross,” says Matthew Traube, a psychotherapist who specialises in body-focused repetitive behaviours. “Seeing a doctor popping pimples validates the behaviour and sends the message that you don’t have to be ashamed of it.”

Click Away the Stress

“People tell me that they need my videos to relax,” notes Dr Lee, “and that they help them sleep at night.”

Kriti M., a 29-year-old @DrPimplePopper fan, queues one up every night before bed. “It sounds bizarre, but they help me unwind,” she says. “There’s a sense of accomplishment to a great pop.”

Really, who can’t relate to that feeling of satisfaction after popping a blackhead or bump lurking just beneath your skin? “Most of my patients describe relief while they are picking,” explains Traube. For chronic skin pickers—indicative of a larger mental health issue— these videos may offer an outlet. “Just like watching someone bite a lemon might make your mouth pucker, watching someone get extractions can also produce a physiological or emotional response or release,” says Traube. It sounds odd, but it gives some a clean slate.

 

 

 

 

 

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This little blackhead caught my eye when I was seeing this patient for something else?

A post shared by Sandra Lee, MD, FAAD, FAACS (@drpimplepopper) on Jul 25, 2018 at 2:06pm PDT

By Nicole Catanese

This article was published in August 2016 issue of Cosmopolitan India