A doctor has issued a stark health warning, advising people against popping pimples in a specific area of the face. This common grooming habit ‘could kill you’, the expert cautioned
A doctor has issued a chilling health warning, urging people to avoid popping pimples in a particular area of the face.
This everyday grooming practice “could kill you”, the medical expert warned. Squeezing pimples is a habit many perform without a second thought. While it’s typically safe, there are specific situations where it could present a deadly threat.
In a clip shared on TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia explained this concern. Known online as Dr Sooj, he cautioned against touching what’s called the “triangle of death”. It comes as a dermatologist shares the surprising thing you should do before getting into swimming pools.
The phrase “triangle of death” describes the zone from the bridge of your nose down to the corners of your mouth. The hazard stems from the heightened chance of a dangerous infection that could potentially travel to your brain or bloodstream when squeezing a blemish in this region.
Speaking to his more than 290,000 followers, Dr Sooj declared: “Do not pop a pimple in the triangle of death. Don’t do it, it could kill you”.
He stressed that while this result is improbable, it’s not out of the question. “I mean it probably won’t, but is it really worth the risk?” he continued.
“The triangle runs from the bridge of your nose down to the corners of your mouth. The veins here drain backwards into the cavernous sinus and this is a deep vein inside the skull that is very very close to the brain.
“Now if you pop a pimple in this area you are opening up that area to new bacteria and if it gets infected that bacteria can spread into those veins. In very rare cases this can cause a cavernous sinus thrombosis, which is a blood clot or an infection in the brain and it can be life threatening.”
Dr Sooj explained when to get medical attention: “Now most pimples won’t do this but it’s why we always advise against picking in that zone. So if a spot in the triangle becomes red, swollen or painful, especially if you feel unwell with a fever or a swelling spreading across the face, you need a really urgent medical opinion, perhaps even a visit to the emergency department.”
He concluded: “So please resist the urge to squeeze you can instead treat it with topical creams, warm compresses and let it settle, your brain will thank you for it.”
His cautionary message is backed by another medical expert, dermatologist Alok Vij. Writing for the Cleveland Clinic, Dr Vij explained: “There is the possibility for a facial infection to become an infection that impacts the rest of your body. Thankfully, it’s relatively unlikely.
“But whenever there’s a violation of the skin and interaction with bacteria, there’s always a possibility for infection, which can lead to greater health concerns.”
Dr Sooj’s alert follows just days after a woman grabbed international attention for squeezing a blemish in the so-called “triangle of deaths”. A 32-year-old Michigan woman, Alisha Monaco, experienced “excruciating pain” after popping a pimple on her face.
This led to severe facial swelling and dizziness, prompting her to seek medical help. In a TikTok video, she revealed: “I knew I’d messed up. The pain was all on the right bottom side of my nostril, down to my lip and even up the side of my face.
“I woke up four or five hours later in excruciating pain on my right side of my face. The whole right side of my face was swollen, my smile was crooked and my ear felt clogged on the right side. It was brutal. I was in so much pain just trying to smile/talk.”
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