If you have ever watched a skin video online and heard the words “popaholics”, you have probably met Dr. Sandra Lee. Known around the world as Dr. Pimple Popper, she is a board-certified dermatologist from Southern California who turned everyday clinic work into one of the most-watched skin care channels on the internet.
This guide explains who Dr. Pimple Popper really is: where she trained, how her videos took off, what her TV shows and skincare line are, and why her advice often ends with “see a dermatologist”. Every fact below comes from her practice, her alma mater, major news outlets or her own channels.
Quick answer: who is Dr. Pimple Popper?
- Dr. Pimple Popper is the online name of Sandra Lee, MD, a dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (FAAD).
- She practices at Skin Physicians & Surgeons in Upland, California.
- Her YouTube channel has more than 9 million subscribers.
- She has starred in the TLC series Dr. Pimple Popper (2018 to 2023) and the Lifetime series Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out (2025 onward).
- She launched the SLMD Skincare line in 2017.
Training and early career
According to her practice biography and the alumni magazine of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Dr. Lee studied at UCLA and earned her medical degree from Drexel University’s Hahnemann program in 1998. She did an internship at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, then trained in dermatology at Southern Illinois University, completing her residency in 2003.
She later received additional training in laser and cosmetic surgery in San Diego with Dr. Richard E. Fitzpatrick. That surgical background matters, because much of what viewers see on her channel is minor skin surgery: removing cysts, lipomas and other lumps, not just squeezing a blackhead.
In a 2019 interview with SELF, she also mentioned that her father is a dermatologist and that she grew up loving books, which later inspired her own book, Put Your Best Face Forward.
How the videos started
Her YouTube uploads date back to 2010, but her audience grew mainly from 2015 onward. SIU Medicine’s alumni magazine reports that a blackhead extraction video she posted on Instagram in 2014 started the wave of attention. Her patients, she explained to SELF, now travel long distances in the hope of being treated by her, and some ask to be filmed.
Fans became known as “popaholics”. Dr. Lee told SELF why she thinks the videos work: some people find them cleansing, some compare them to a roller coaster or a scary movie with a happy ending, and others find her calm voice relaxing. She also stressed that she posts them for education. For a closer look at the most-watched clips and what they teach, read our guide to Dr. Pimple Popper’s most-watched videos.
From YouTube to television
Her online fame led to TV. TLC aired a one-hour Dr. Pimple Popper special on January 3, 2018, and the first full season premiered on July 11, 2018. The series ran for nine seasons through August 2023, with a spin-off, Before the Pop, in 2020. In 2025, a new series called Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out began on Lifetime. Our Dr. Pimple Popper TV show guide lists every season and where to stream it.
SLMD Skincare
In 2017, Dr. Lee launched SLMD Skincare. In an interview with Teen Vogue the same year, she described the SLMD Acne System as meant for people who cannot see a dermatologist because of time, distance or money. The company says its formulas are at over-the-counter strength. If you want a neutral look at the range, see our SLMD Skincare review.
What she says about popping pimples
It may surprise people who know her for extraction videos, but her core message is cautious. In the SELF interview she said that, like all dermatologists, she would tell people not to pop anything, while acknowledging that many people will do it anyway. She says deep, painful cystic pimples should not be squeezed because of the risk of scarring. Read why in our guide on why you should not pop pimples, and learn to tell a deep cyst from a surface spot in cystic acne vs pimple.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr. Pimple Popper a real doctor?
Yes. Sandra Lee is a board-certified dermatologist and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology who practices in Upland, California.
What is Dr. Pimple Popper’s real name?
Her name is Sandra Lee, MD. “Dr. Pimple Popper” is the nickname that grew out of her online videos.
Where did Dr. Pimple Popper go to school?
She attended UCLA, earned her MD from Drexel University’s Hahnemann program in 1998 and completed her dermatology residency at Southern Illinois University in 2003.
How many subscribers does Dr. Pimple Popper have on YouTube?
Her channel has more than 9 million subscribers. The exact number changes daily, so check the channel for the latest figure.
Which TV shows has she starred in?
Dr. Pimple Popper on TLC (2018 to 2023), the spin-off Before the Pop (2020), and Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out on Lifetime (2025 onward).
When to see a dermatologist
Watching skin videos can teach you what common bumps look like, but it cannot replace an exam. See a dermatologist for any growing, painful, bleeding or changing spot, and for acne that leaves scars or does not respond to over-the-counter care. This article is general information, not medical advice, and Video Spotter is not affiliated with Dr. Sandra Lee.
