Do You Have What It Takes to Be the Next Dr. Pimple Popper?

By: Jane Andrews

6 Min Quiz

Image: Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Do you love watching blackhead extractions, cyst squeezes and pus-filled pimple pops? You're not alone. Dermatologist Sandra Lee — a.k.a. Dr. Pimple Popper — has amassed more than a billion social media followers by sharing up-close videos of her patient's grossest (yet oh-so-satisfying) skin procedures. She also has a highly-rated reality show on the TLC network, which chronicles some of the most outrageous skin issues she's ever encountered, from golf-ball-sized cysts to 55-year-old blackheads.

If you're obsessed with skin squeezes and count yourself among Dr. Lee's devoted popaholics, you may have dreams of becoming a cyst whisperer yourself. But do you truly have what it takes to carry out these disgusting tasks? Would you be able to survive an unexpected quirt of pus in your eye, or overcome the off-putting odor of "cyst smell," which Dr. Lee once described as "a big rotten goose egg?"

This quiz will help you find out! Answer all of the following questions, and we'll tell you if you've got what it takes to be an extreme pimple popper, just like Dr. Lee.

While in the bathroom at work, you spot the ripest red zit in the center of your chin. What do you do?

Put on some cover up and try not to touch it. I'll treat it carefully with cream when I get home.

Give it a quick pop and go about my day — no biggie.
Squeeze it only if it looks like a clean, easy pop. Ignore it if I think it will just make things look worse.

Wait until my lunch break, then come back to the bathroom with Q-tips, gauze and a spring in my step.

How do you feel about popping your significant other's pimples?

I'm all about it, especially if they let me take a video of it with my phone.

No way. That's a personal boundary I will never cross.
I don't have a problem with it, but I'll only do it if asked.

I'm not really into it, but I love squeezing the blackheads on their nose.

Do you know what a sebaceous filament is?

Is that what the dentist uses to fill cavities?

I sure do!
I've heard the term, but I'm not sure what it means.

That's the thing that looks like a blackhead but isn't, right?

While walking down the street, you pass a horrible car accident. Police and ambulance are already there, so your help is not needed. What do you do?

Shut my eyes and walk the other way — I get sick at the sight of blood.

Feel curious, try not to look, but steal a glance as I walk by.
Get as close as possible and absorb all the gory details.

Keep on walking — if I can't help out, there's no reason for me to be there.

You accidentally cut yourself while chopping veggies for dinner, and now your finger is bleeding. How do you react?

Stay calm, grab my first-aid kit, and carefully put on a bandage.

Cover it with a compress until it stops bleeding.
Scream for my roommate or significant other to come and patch me up.

Freak out, try my best not to faint and head to the ER.

Do you get nauseated easily?

No — I haven't thrown up since I was a kid.

Very rarely — it takes a lot to make me feel queasy.
Sometimes — it depends on the situation.

Just thinking about being nauseous makes me feel nauseous.

You're house-sitting for a friend and discover multiple puke piles left by the cat. What do you do?

Flee the scene before I throw up myself.

Clean them up and move on — I've dealt with grosser things than cat vomit.
Scoop them up quickly with paper towels and pray it doesn't happen again.

Carefully examine its contents and try to figure out what made the cat sick.

How often do you watch Dr. Pimple Popper videos?

It's a daily ritual — they relax and calm me.

I'll watch one or two when they pop up on my feed, but never too many in a row.
If she's doing blackhead extractions, I can watch for hours.

Only when my friends force me to

How do you tend to your toenails?

Peel and pick at them whenever I get the chance.

Clip, file and paint them every two to three weeks.
Quickly clip them whenever they need a trim.

Feet are gross — I get my toenails clipped at the nail salon.

Which of the following things you do find most satisfying?

Peeling off a blackhead strip

Popping bubble wrap
Playing with slime

Watching ASMR videos

You discover a big, squishy bump on the back of your scalp. What do you do?

Put on a hat and rush to the dermatologist.

Sterilize a needle, carefully puncture it and squeeze out the contents.
Leave it alone — if people can't see it, it's no big deal.

Try to pop it immediately, of course!

Do you know the difference between a white head and a blackhead?

Yes and duh — that's pimple popping 101!

Gross! Why would I want to know that?
I know that one is white and one is black.

I think so, though it doesn't really matter to me — they are both so satisfying to squeeze!

Do you ever dream about popping zits?

I don't remember my dreams.

I dream about squeezing out blackheads more often.
All the time!

No. And if did, I would call it a nightmare.

Fresh from the shower, you spot an icky ingrown hair in a pretty personal place on your body. What do you do?

Exfoliate the area and apply a warm compress to soften the skin, then sterilize a pair of tweezers and get to work.

Tweeze it out gently, but only if it's easy to remove.
Leave it be and hope it goes away on its own.

Call my dermatologist immediately and book a laser hair removal appointment.

Do you know what a lipoma is?

Of course, what do you think I am, an amateur?

Yes, though I sometimes get them confused with pillar cysts.
Is it a type of lip balm?

No, but it sounds disgusting.

Do you ever go to bed without taking off your makeup?

Yes, but I give my face a good steam and extract whatever gunk I can the next morning.

Occasionally, if I've had a really late night out.
I don't wear makeup.

Never!

Do you own a comedone extractor?

I have many and I use them all the time!

Yes, though I honestly prefer popping and squeezing with my fingers.
No, I'd be too afraid to use it and leave a scar.

What's a comedone extractor?

How does the sight of blood make you feel?

Squeamish AF

Kind of uncomfortable, but I can handle it.
The sight of blood doesn't bother me.

Honestly, I'm fascinated by blood, pus and other bodily secretions.

When you spend a day at the beach, how diligent are you about wearing sunscreen?

I spray myself down once and hope for the best.

I'm pretty good — I cover myself from head to toe and always reapply after swimming.
I reapply it constantly, and always wear a huge, floppy hat.

I'm not very diligent because I tend to stay in the shade.

How do you usually take care of your body hair?

Electrolysis

Waxing
Shaving

Nair

You agree to go on an extreme skin care reality show in which you're forced to try a crazy facial. Which one would you choose?

Bee venom facial

Vampire facial
Snail facial

Are you crazy? I would never go on a show like this.

How do you feel about ear wax?

Removing earwax is almost as satisfying as extracting blackheads.

I get ear candling done regularly at the salon.
I don't mind digging it out if my ears get clogged, but I always do it very gently.

I try not to think about it, thank you.

While changing your baby nephew's diaper, a wee bit of pee squirts you in the face. How do you feel?

Not the least bit upset because I wore a face-splash shield in preparation!

No big deal — it's just baby pee, after all.
A little grossed out, but that cute face makes it all worth it.

Disgusted. This will be the last time I volunteer for diaper duty.

How do you like to remove your nail polish?

Pick at it.

Peel it off in chunks.
Let it chip off until my next salon appointment.

Use nail polish remover.

Your best friend has a splinter and asks you to get it out for them. What do you do?

Sterilize a needle and get cracking.

Reluctantly agree to do it.
Say yes without hesitation, and ask if they have any ingrown hairs you can remove while you're at it.

Pretend you didn't hear them.

How do you feel about people popping zits or picking their face in public?

Grossed out

Jealous
Annoyed

Don't care

Which bad habit annoys you the most?

Constant fidgeting

Open-mouth chewing
Nose picking

Nail biting

Have you ever picked off a scab?

Never!

Occasionally
Yes, but I'm diligent about disinfecting the area after I do.

Only if it itches

Be honest — do you ever sniff your armpits?

All the time!

I have done it in private.
I'll only do it if I can't remember if I put on deodorant that morning.

Why on earth would I do that?

Do you ever pick dry skin off your lips?

When I'm nervous

Never
I'll pull it off if it's noticeable to others.

How could I not?

5 Minute Quiz 5 Min

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