Dr. Pimple Popper reveals she suffered terrifying stroke which caused part of her brain to die while filming show

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Dr. Sandra Lee, known as Dr. Pimple Popper, recently experienced a stroke while working on her new TV show. It was a frightening experience for her.

Dr. Ramirez, a 55-year-old dermatologist, specializes in treating challenging and rare skin conditions at her practice, Skin Physicians & Surgeons, located in Upland, California.

Dr. Lee mentioned that while filming ‘Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out’ in November, she began to feel like something wasn’t right.

The trailer for the second season of her reality show featured a 911 call being made from her office, followed by an ambulance arriving at a hospital.

It was clear things were really bad – the staff was told as much, and I even saw Dr. Lee getting emotional in an interview. It was heartbreaking to watch, and it really drove home how serious everything was.

Following his stroke, Dr. Lee shared with People magazine that he immediately noticed a change in his speech. He described feeling embarrassed and stressed about speaking, as he was aware of the difference from how he used to sound. This was particularly difficult for him as a surgeon, since he was accustomed to projecting confidence and strength.

This happened while I was working on the show. I suddenly felt very hot and sweaty, and just didn’t feel right. I was restless and kept getting shooting pains in one of my legs. I also realized it was becoming difficult to walk, especially down the stairs.

The next day, she started experiencing even stranger symptoms, prompting her to see a doctor.

Dr. Lee described how his hand would slowly droop when he extended it. He also realized he was struggling to speak clearly. This led him to worry he might be having a stroke.

Her father, a dermatologist himself, urged her to get to the emergency room right away. Tests showed she’d had a stroke caused by a blocked blood vessel.

An ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot stops blood flow to the brain, and it can be life-threatening, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Lee described the diagnosis as a complete shock. Even as a doctor, he couldn’t ignore the signs – his slurred speech and weakness on one side – but initially, he hoped it wasn’t real, thinking it must be a bad dream.

‘What essentially happened is I had a part of my brain that died.’ 

Dr. Lee explained what led to the stroke.

She explained that her blood pressure and cholesterol were high, and she was experiencing a lot of stress from both her work with patients and the demands of the show.

I’m trying to see this as a positive thing, a reminder that I need to prioritize my own well-being.

The TLC star talked honestly about the medical emergency’s long-term effect on her life.

She explained that she was worried because her left hand didn’t feel fully under her control, and her grip wasn’t as strong as usual. She added that it’s frightening when she doesn’t feel like she’s performing at her peak.

Dr. Lee became well-known after building a large online following with her videos, and then starred in the TLC reality show Dr. Pimple Popper from 2018 to 2023.

She started posting videos on YouTube in 2010, but became more consistent in 2015 after seeing that videos of her skincare routines, specifically extractions, were gaining popularity on Instagram.

Her new series Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out is on Lifetime as the first season aired last year. 

Dr. Lee is married to fellow dermatologist Jeff Rebish as they share two sons together. 

Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out season 2 premieres on Sunday, April 20 at 9pm on Lifetime.

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2026-04-14 20:08