Dr. Sandra Lee aka Dr. Pimple Popper Reveals Her Top Beauty Secrets and Tips for Managing Acne

You may know Dr. Sandra Lee as Dr. Pimple Popper, the Board-Certified Southern California dermatologist whose YouTube channel propelled her to internet stardom by giving people an uncensored peek at her work. Today, Dr. Lee has over 5 million YouTube subscribers, 3.3 million Instagram followers, and 2 million Facebook fans.  

Dr. Lee originally launched her YouTube channel in 2014, and people were fascinated by her graphic “popping” videos. Since then, she has used her social media platform to educate about the world of dermatology and skincare, from MOHS surgery (treatment for removing skin cancer) to botox and blackhead extractions. She recently joined Sun Pharma to raise awareness for the AH-ha!™ It’s Acne Hormones campaign to spotlight the role of hormones in the skin as an underlying cause of acne which happens to be the most prevalent skin condition in the U.S. Acne affects up to 50 million Americans and 80% of people at some point during their lives.

In 2018, Dr. Lee landed her own reality show on TLC where she continues to teach people about skin issues and dermatology. The hit show Dr. Pimple Popper has been wildly popular and returned to TLC for Season 8 in March. 

We caught up with Dr. Lee to chat about everything from her top beauty tips to addressing hormonal acne. Read on to find out everything you always wanted to know about acne but were too afraid to ask.

Can you share a little about your journey in the industry and getting your own show on TLC?

This has been quite the amazing journey! This all started back in 2014 when I started a YouTube channel just to promote my dermatology practice in Southern California. I would post videos and before and afters about the procedures that I would perform at the office - things like Botox, fillers, tattoo removal, tickle lipo. 

I would notice a little jump in views whenever I would post blackhead extractions and didn’t think much of it –until I stumbled upon a subreddit called r/popping. It was filled with thousands of people who all liked to just share videos of things popping out of the skin. This was obviously right up my alley so I started asking this community what they would like to see and they were very helpful in telling me what they liked to see and how they liked it. 

I created my Reddit account and knew that I wasn’t supposed to use my real name as my username, so kind of on a whim, I just created Dr. Pimple Popper. And That’s basically how this all started.

Over the next couple of years, we spent a lot of time just learning about YouTube and continuing to grow and engage with our amazing popaholics. We started working on my skincare line SLMD Skincare and launched that in March of 2017 as a dermatology-based, results driven skincare line focused on helping people treat and manage common skin conditions (e.g. acne, body acne, keratosis pilaris, anti-aging) with over-the-counter products.  

When our subscriber base and Instagram and other social accounts kind of got into the range of a million plus subscribers and followers, we started getting interest from production companies asking about opportunities to produce a reality show based on what I was doing. So we met with production companies and came up with concepts for the show and we were lucky enough to get some interest from Discovery Networks / TLC. The first Dr. Pimple Popper episode aired in January 2018 and we’ve been going strong ever since.

What is the most common question you get about acne and what do you want people to know about the answer?

By far the question I get most from people is “Can you cure my acne?” The truth is, there is no cure for acne — but the good news is that we have a lot of very effective options to treat and manage it, including both over-the-counter and prescription treatments. I don’t sugar coat things for my patients, but I do practice empathy and encouragement. When you educate someone, they feel empowered to take control of their own skin health.

What are the biggest myths and misconceptions about acne?

The biggest myths are that only teenagers get acne, and that acne is caused by eating greasy food which exacerbates oily skin. Eating junk food can make acne worse, but it doesn’t cause the acne cycle to start. The cycle is started by hormones, as they are responsible for regulating the amount of sebum in the skin which feeds acne bacteria to grow in pores and cause breakouts.

What role do hormones play in causing acne?

Hormones are the underlying cause of acne. There are 3 other key factors, but it’s all first triggered by hormones, which are responsible for regulating the amount of sebum (oil) in the skin. Sebum is the ‘food’ that acne bacteria needs to grow in pores and cause breakouts. See more on AcneHormones.com and learn from the Sun Pharma AH-ha!™ It’s Acne Hormones campaign. 

Is there an age group that hormonal acne affects most? 

Acne is most prevalent among teenagers and young adults, but it affects almost everyone at some point in their lives and can occur in almost any stage in life. 

Do diet and stress also play a role?

As mentioned earlier, diet and stress may worsen a person’s acne, but they aren’t the core causes of breakouts. The acne cycle is started by hormones in the skin. Hormones regulate the amount of sebum which feeds acne bacteria to grow in pores and cause breakouts. 

What is one thing that most people aren’t aware of about acne that can help them get it under control?

People tend to think about treating the pimples that they see - like if they dry them out and they go away, they’ve managed their acne. What most people with acne don’t know is that the most effective way to manage breakouts is by using a skin care regimen prescribed by a dermatologist to prevent them from happening in the first place. A key part of doing this successfully is by blocking hormones in the skin.  

For those who wear makeup, is there anything you want them to know about prepping the skin before makeup or removing makeup that can help them avoid breakouts?

No matter if you wear makeup routinely or never, it’s always best to follow a consistent skincare routine to keep your acne in check. So wash your face, apply your acne treatment, and don’t forget to moisturize — this will give you a smoother base for your makeup. If you wear primer, make sure it doesn’t contain comedogenic ingredients. The same goes for your cosmetics: seek out products that specifically say they won’t clog your pores.

When removing makeup, be gentle! Start with an oil-free makeup remover and a soft, clean cloth or disposable round. Avoid scrubbing, which could exacerbate acne. Follow up with your acne cleanser.

If you feel like your makeup might be making your breakouts worse, try a cosmetics break: go bare-faced for a couple of weeks and see if that makes any difference. One more important thing: Clean your makeup brushes and tools often, and replace your makeup routinely to avoid bacterial buildup.

Can you share any favorite product recommendations for clear skin?

Of course I’m partial to my SLMD Skincare Acne System and Sensitive Skin Acne Systems, which are complete kits with everything you need to treat and prevent acne. The essentials here are an exfoliating cleanser that’s gentle enough to use every day, an antibacterial acne treatment, a retinol to regulate cell turnover, and a moisturizer. People have a misconception that oily or acne-prone skin doesn’t need moisturizer, but it’s important to protect the skin barrier, especially during acne treatment.

What’s next for Dr. Pimple Popper?

There are LOTS of things I’d still like to accomplish.  My mission with Dr. Pimple Popper has always been to show a window into my world as a dermatologist and to make available dermatology - education, counsel, product and solutions - to everyone. I love that we have had this ability to kind of trick people into learning things – popholics will watch hours and hours of Dr. Pimple Popper videos then all of a sudden will know how to identify a steatocystoma or diagnose a pilar cyst in a family member! I hope to continue to make entertaining, educational and engaging content as well as effective products and solutions available to anyone that wants it.  

Secret to success?

There are many typical answers to this question, like work harder than everyone else, learn from your failures, and don’t take “no” for an answer. And of course, we have to acknowledge that luck can play a major role. But something a lot of people don’t talk about is kindness. I think that’s something that really drives me and the people at our company. We never lose sight of the fact that in the end, we’re all human. No matter what, remember to be kind to everyone: coworkers, vendors, patients, our audience and customers. Even —  and especially during the rough times — because that all comes across in everything you do and people can sense when it’s genuine.

Biggest beauty secret that you can share?

Confidence! I know it can be challenging when your acne is flaring and maybe you’re not feeling your best, but putting yourself out there and living life is a beautiful thing. What I’ve noticed is that as soon as patients start to take control of their skin health, their whole demeanor changes. Don’t forget that acne is human: it’s the most common skin concern in the world. You’re not alone, and you’re beautiful inside and out.’

Wellness tips?

All the skincare in the world isn’t going to help you if you don’t take care of yourself. Get a good night’s sleep — that’s prime time for your skin to rejuvenate itself. Exercise has great skin benefits, because it boosts oxygen and nutrients and gives you that extra glow. And do what you can to reduce your stress levels, since bringing down cortisol levels can improve a variety of skin conditions, including acne.

Favorite way to relax?

There’s a place that we like to go to in Lake Arrowhead here in Southern California where it is beautiful and very quiet. My favorite way to relax is to just spend time with my family, maybe take a hike around the lake, or just relax and watch some TV.

[Images courtesy of Sun Pharma]

A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Beauty Launchpad, Nailpro, DAYSPA, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16