Dr. Pimple Popper, Sandra Lee, had a 'very scary' stroke while working
Dr. Pimple Popper, Sandra Lee, had a 'very scary' stroke while working
KiMi Robinson, USA TODAYTue, April 14, 2026 at 10:42 PM UTC
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Dr. Sandra Lee, best known as the viral social media star Dr. Pimple Popper, is opening up about the "very scary" experience of having a stroke while at work.
The dermatological surgeon, 55, revealed in a People magazine interview published April 14 that the medical emergency happened on Nov. 20. Though she's now "pretty much back to normal," Lee still sometimes notices that "I don’t speak exactly the way I used to."
While seeing patients at her practice as the cameras rolled on Season 2 of the Lifetime show "Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out" (premiering Monday, April 20), Lee told the magazine that she experienced "what I thought was a hot flash. I got super sweaty and didn’t feel like myself."
Dr. Sandra Lee, best known as the viral social media star Dr. Pimple Popper, has opened up about the "very scary" experience of having a stroke while at work.
Her symptoms worsened as the day went on, developing "shooting pains" in one leg and realizing she had difficulty walking down the stairs at night. The next morning, she couldn't hold her arm up; her hand "would just slowly collapse." When she started having a hard time "articulating and enunciating," she wondered: "Am I having a stroke?"
An MRI later confirmed she's experienced an ischemic stroke, which occurs when "blood clots or other particles block the blood vessels to the brain," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When the flow of blood is stymied, "brain cells start to due within minutes because they can't get oxygen."
The immediate aftermath involved two months of recovery, which entailed physical and occupational therapy that helped Lee find equilibrium and regain movement, the magazine reported.
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As a surgeon, Lee was especially worried about her hands.
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"I don’t like that I don’t have total control of my left hand or the grip wasn’t as strong," she told People. "If I feel like I’m not at my best — it’s very scary."
She theorized that the stroke could have been caused by several factors, including "my blood pressure and my cholesterol were not under control, and I have a lot of stress in my life, dealing with my patients and the show."
High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, per the CDC. High cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and smoking are several other risk factors for experiencing a stroke.
Lee's current post-stroke regimen includes blood thinners and at-home physical therapy.
"I want to think about it as a blessing in disguise, because it reminds you to take better care of yourself," she told the magazine.
What are the signs of a stroke?
Signs of a stroke can be identified by sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech; issues with eyesight; loss of balance, dizziness, and difficulty walking; and severe headache with no identifiable cause.
"The stroke treatments that work best are available only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within 3 hours of the first symptoms," the CDC advises.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dr. Pimple Popper had a stroke while filming her show
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
