Dr Pimple Popper Star Sandra Lee Reveals On-Set Stroke During Filming
Television personality and dermatologist Sandra Lee, widely recognised as Dr Pimple Popper, has disclosed that she endured a life-changing stroke in November while recording the second season of her Lifetime programme, Dr Pimple Popper: Breaking Out. The medical emergency unfolded during production, forcing an immediate halt to filming as Lee confronted the serious health crisis.
Initial Symptoms Mistaken for a Hot Flash
In a recent interview with People magazine, Lee, aged 55, recounted the frightening episode. "It happened while I was filming the show. I had what I thought was a hot flash," she explained. "I got super sweaty and didn't feel like myself." Initially dismissing the signs, she completed her on-set duties and drove to her parents' residence nearby.
However, the symptoms persisted, intensifying her concern. "I just felt very restless," Lee recalled. "In one leg I kept feeling shooting pains." She also observed difficulty navigating stairs, noting a significant challenge in walking down them. After spending the night at her parents' home, she awoke to discover the left side of her body was paralysed.
Emergency Diagnosis and Recovery Process
"I would hold my hand out, and it would just slowly collapse," Lee described. "I noticed that I had a tough time articulating and just enunciating. I thought, 'Am I having a stroke?'" Her father urgently insisted she visit the emergency room, where an MRI confirmed she had suffered an ischemic stroke. This type of stroke occurs when a blood clot obstructs blood flow to the brain, depriving it of oxygen.
"It was just a shock," Lee continued. "As a physician I couldn't deny that I had slurred speech, that I was having weakness on one side, but I was like, 'Well, this is a dream, right?'" She added starkly, "What essentially happened is I had a part of my brain that died."
Filming was suspended as Lee embarked on a two-month recovery journey, undergoing intensive physical and occupational therapy to restore balance and motor functions. She returned to work in January, but the experience left lasting effects.
Ongoing Challenges and Career Background
"I don't like that I don't have total control of my left hand or the grip wasn't as strong. If I feel like I'm not at my best — it's very scary," she admitted. Lee also revealed she suffers from "a lot of PTSD" since the stroke occurred on set, highlighting the psychological impact of the trauma.
Lee first gained viral fame around 2014 through Instagram videos showcasing her extracting blackheads and cysts. This online popularity propelled her to stardom, leading to the hit nine-season TLC reality series Dr Pimple Popper, which followed her treating patients with unusual facial and skin conditions.
After the TLC series concluded in 2023, she transitioned to Lifetime's ongoing show, Dr Pimple Popper: Breaking Out. This programme features intimate, self-shot footage of Lee's life beyond her clinical practice. The second season of Dr Pimple Popper: Breaking Out is scheduled to premiere on April 20 on Lifetime, marking her return to television following the health scare.
