Watch Dr. Pimple Popper Dig for Blackheads Hidden Inside a Patient's Ear
Nobody knows how to get under a patient's skin better than Dr. Pimple Popper. In a new Instagram video published on Saturday afternoon, dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee, MD—otherwise known as TLC's Doctor Pimple Popper—extracts a cluster of blackheads from inside of a patient's ear canal. (And if you happen to be a fan of Ol Blue Eyes, here's your fair warning: After watching this clip, your brain might be rewired to forever associate a certain Frank Sinatra classic with a mildly unsettling dermatological procedure.)
In the brief clip, Dr. Lee uses her trusty comedone extractor to finesse her way around the small blackhead cluster, squeezing out mini-geysers of oil and dead skin cells. Blackheads, of course, tend to look worse than they really are—a lot of times, they go away on their own, and they're only black due to their proximity to the skin's surface. (The process of oxidization causes them to turn dark.)
While it's tempting, unless you're under the care of a professional dermatologist, squeezing blackheads to get rid of them is generally a pretty bad idea, as Heidi Waldorf, MD, a professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai previously told Men's Health. Most of the time, that'll just result in skin irritation and possibly even scarring. Instead, look for over the counter treatments such as mild facial cleansers or skin peels—or just waiting a couple of weeks—to resolve the problem.
Of course, if the blackheads happen to be located somewhere less convenient—such as inside your ear canal—giving it time or seeing a pro may well be your only option.
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