Pimple Popping Videos: Why Are They So Popular?

Blackhead videos showing blackhead extractions are increasing in popularity. Because? Image Source: Getty/dimid_86

If you’ve ever been fascinated by watching someone apply their skincare on YouTube, you’re not alone. This is how I felt during a recent Zoom call with a beauty founder, where she rubbed cleansing oil over her eyes, magically bringing all her mascara and eyeliner to the surface until it was gone. I couldn’t look away.

Those feelings of deep contentment are in many ways similar to those of “popaholics” (a term coined by dermatologist Sandra Lee, MD, aka Dr. Pimple Popper) when watching extraction videos. These are where a licensed esthetician or dermatologist removes clogged pores on the face or body with a special tool or with your fingers, usually blackhead extractioncysts, pimples and much more.

Because these gooey videos tend to fall into a category called “gross,” you either love them or can’t stop watching them, but the number of people on the latter runs into the millions.

While pimple-popping videos aren’t a new phenomenon, Dr. Pimple Popper’s TLC Show of the same name first aired in 2018 – following a relentless news cycle and increased stress and uncertainty, they have definitely seen more of a resurgence online in recent years. He left us wondering: what is the psychology behind these strangely satisfying videos, and why do they serve as a form of escape from reality for so many people right now?

The allure of stripping videos

In some cases, poking in your skin It can release dopamine, the feel-good hormone. When people watch videos of other people’s skin being removed, they feel a cathartic rush of satisfaction. “People are fascinated by other people’s angst or struggles, and as gross as it is to pop a pimple, they get a dopamine rush every time they see the intensity of someone else’s problems,” he says. Roseann Capanna Hodge, psychologist and expert in integrative mental health. “Watching videos of how to pop pimples can stimulate a variety of emotions and sensations in people, including excitement, love of the grotesque, disgust, shame and voyeurism. It’s like watching a runaway train; you can’t avert your eyes from the drama because it’s a dopamine rush.”

That being said, because the medical industry often advises against popping and pinching the skin (the most common reason being the possibility of acne scars), some people feel guilty when they swallow them at home.

However, seeing someone else do it can help them feel better about seeing someone else take action on their acne, he says. amy morin, LCSW, psychotherapist and editor-in-chief of Verywell Mind. It’s this sense of community, visually seeing that you’re not the only human being suffering from acne, that can make you feel more comfortable with yourself and ultimately empowered. Not to mention, watching someone else pop their pimples knowing there will be no ramifications to your own skin can add to the pleasure experienced while watching.

Other viewers tune in because they have a higher threshold for oozing content and experience a sort of “morbid curiosity” while watching. “Circumstances that trigger emotions like disgust vary from person to person,” says Morin. “Someone might be a little disgusted and mostly curious, while someone else looking at the same image might be incredibly disgusted and not at all curious. Our brains all react a little differently depending on our life experiences and personalities.” For some, watching pimple-popping videos can be gross, but the push of boundaries in their negative reactions keeps their attention.

The popularity of pimple popping videos right now

With more people working from home in the last couple of years, it goes without saying that people have taken up a variety of hobbies. This, it seems, was just one of them. According to Dr. Capanna-Hodge, “sheer boredom and lack of stimulation are driving people to watch ‘gross’ and ‘dramatic’ reality TV shows,” such as pimple popping.

On the other hand, watching videos of people popping pimples can give some a sense of relief and control in a world where there has been very little of that. “They see someone gaining a sense of control over something they couldn’t control in the first place, like having acne,” says Morin. “They may see the person as gaining a sense of relief as he gets rid of something unwanted.”

Now, with more and more people heading to the office (and bringing Zoom meetings to real life), will the need to watch pull videos remain for years to come? Our guess? If Dr. Pimple Popper 4.3 million followers on Instagram are some indication, yes. Dr. Capanna-Hodge predicts that as more people move away from outdoor activities and stick to their gadgets and binge shows, reality shows that are heavy on drama, grotesque, or have some level of intensity will continue. being trending as people not getting the dopamine hit of their own lives.

And for those who are easily grossed out by ripping videos, Morin points out that people can become desensitized to the content and find it less offensive with more exposure. As with most things, only time will tell.