Dr. Pimple Popper Reveals Stroke Battle, Vows to Return to Reality Show

The popular dermatologist suffered an ischemic stroke while filming her Lifetime series, but is now on the road to recovery.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:13pm

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A translucent X-ray photograph showing the ghostly internal structure of a human brain, with a glowing, damaged area indicating the site of a stroke.An X-ray image reveals the internal damage caused by Dr. Pimple Popper's stroke, a sobering reminder of the health risks faced by even the most prominent medical professionals.Upland Today

Dr. Sandra Lee, better known as Dr. Pimple Popper, recently opened up about her health scare after suffering an ischemic stroke in the fall of 2025 while filming the second season of her reality show, Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out. Lee spent two months in recovery, including physical and occupational therapy, and is now preparing to return to work and resume filming.

Why it matters

As a prominent figure in the medical community and a reality TV star, Dr. Lee's stroke diagnosis and recovery journey sheds light on the importance of maintaining good cardiovascular health, even for healthcare professionals. Her openness about the experience also helps raise awareness of the risks and symptoms of strokes, which can affect people of all ages.

The details

While filming her Lifetime series in the fall of 2025, Dr. Lee experienced what she thought was a 'hot flash,' feeling sweaty and restless. The next morning, she noticed weakness and difficulty articulating on the left side of her body. Her father, also a dermatologist, recommended she go to the emergency room, where an MRI confirmed she had suffered an ischemic stroke. Lee spent two months in recovery, including physical and occupational therapy, to regain control of her left hand and improve her speech.

  • In the fall of 2025, Dr. Lee was filming season 2 of Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out when she experienced stroke symptoms.
  • The next morning, Lee noticed more symptoms on the left side of her body and went to the emergency room.
  • An MRI confirmed that Lee had suffered an ischemic stroke.
  • Lee spent two months in recovery following the stroke, including physical and occupational therapy.
  • Dr. Lee returned to work in January 2026 and resumed filming Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out season 2, which premieres on Lifetime on April 20, 2026.

The players

Dr. Sandra Lee

Also known as Dr. Pimple Popper, she is a dermatologist and reality TV star who rose to fame through her YouTube and Instagram channels featuring skin extractions. She had her own TLC show, Dr. Pimple Popper, from 2018 to 2023, and a follow-up series, Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out, on Lifetime.

Dr. May Kim-Tenser

Lee's neurologist from USC's Keck medical school, who explained that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for strokes in patients aged 45 to 64.

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What they’re saying

“It was just a shock. As a physician, I couldn't deny that I had slurred speech, that I was having weakness on one side, but I was like, 'Well, this is a dream, right?'”

— Dr. Sandra Lee, Dermatologist and TV personality

“The number one risk factor is high blood pressure. [There's] almost a 15 percent increase in stroke prevalence among patients that are age 45 up to 64.”

— Dr. May Kim-Tenser, Neurologist

What’s next

Dr. Lee is preparing to return to work and resume filming the second season of Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out, which is set to premiere on Lifetime on April 20, 2026.

The takeaway

Dr. Lee's stroke diagnosis and recovery journey serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of maintaining good cardiovascular health, even for healthcare professionals. Her openness about the experience helps raise awareness of stroke risks and symptoms, encouraging others to prioritize their well-being.