'Dr. Pimple Popper' Sandra Lee is coming back from a stroke
Los Angeles Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Dr. Sandra Lee, known as “Dr. Pimple Popper,” suffered an ischemic stroke in November 2025, initially mistaking symptoms for a hot flash before experiencing weakness and speech difficulties.
- An MRI confirmed the stroke, attributed to unmanaged cholesterol, high blood pressure, and stress from balancing her medical practice and TV show.
- After two months of physical and occupational therapy, Lee has mostly recovered, though she still notices slight speech differences and reduced grip strength in her left hand.
- She is currently on blood thinners and resumed filming new episodes of “Dr. Pimple Popper” in January 2026, preparing for the show’s return after a hiatus since 2023.
- Lee expressed amazement at her audience’s engagement, noting that viewers find her extraction videos either soothing or thrilling, likening them to a “scary movie or a roller coaster.”
