There’s a fine line between fascinating and repulsive – as our intrigue into watching all manner of zits, blackheads, and blemishes being extracted proves.

At the forefront of this grossly engrossing trend is dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee, who goes by the alias Dr. Pimple Popper. Her YouTube and Instagram accounts each have over 1 million followers, who tune in to watch her videos of the goopy substances she extracts from her patients. Initially surprised by the popularity, she suspects we just hid our love for watching pimple popping and now we’re all “out of the closet” with the knowledge that so many others like the same thing.

 

“It’s part fascination, part can’t look away, not unlike watching a car accident. There’s also something satisfying in the resolution, like something is being removed that shouldn’t be there and now the skin has been cleansed of an impurity,” Lee says.

She even goes as far as claiming such videos make people feel happy – yes, happy.

“They are actually very relaxing for many people. Many say they watch my videos to help them relieve anxiety, even as a daily bedtime ritual.”

While not exactly on par with camomile tea as a relaxant, education is a key in what she does.

“People learn about their own bodies. I’m able to educate people about their skin along the way.”