Most of us probably don’t think about popping pimples very often. We simply do it. Sure, dermatologists warn you not to, but what is the big deal?
Well, as a mother of three recently discovered, popping that unsightly blemish could literally put your life at risk.
Creator Alisha (@lishmarie1) needed medical attention right away after popping a pimple in her face’s so-called triangle of death.
Now she’s on four different prescriptions to treat what could have been a fatal infection.
“Reminder—DO NOT POP a pimple in the death triangle,” Alisha wrote in the onscreen caption of a recent TikTok video. “Or you’ll end up at urgent care.”
She zooms in to reveal inflammation under one nostril. She then gives a grin, but only the side opposite the pimple moves.
Alisha informed Mary Sue via direct message that the situation had quickly escalated from pimple popping to a medical emergency.
“I decided to seek medical help when I woke up at 4 a.m. (only 5 hours later) with my face swollen and in excruciating pain,” she told me.
Alisha stated that the staff at urgent care assured her that she had done the right thing by coming in right away.
“The urgent care team was really nice and didn’t make me feel embarrassed at all,” she told me. “They were very helpful and gave me a few prescriptions to prevent the infection from getting worse.”
Her post has sparked a new fear among people across the internet. As of this writing, Alisha’s TikTok has received 5.2 million views in just a few days.
Death by pimple
The triangle of death may sound like something out of Stranger Things, but it is a real location on your face.
The triangle of death, also known as the danger triangle, spans from above the bridge of your nose to either side of your mouth.
The blood vessels in this area drain into the sinus cavity behind the eye sockets, which is directly connected to the brain.
Because of the extremely short distance between the surface and the brain, an infection or clot caused by one (known as cavernous sinus thrombosis) can travel quickly to your brain, potentially killing you. According to the Cleveland Clinic, cavernous sinus thrombosis is fatal in approximately one-third of cases.
Experts point out that it is extremely rare.
Still, according to National Geographic, popping a zit may cause you to exit the mortal plane or have a serious medical emergency. Infections in the triangle of death have resulted in hospitalization and surgery, as well as partial facial paralysis.
So think before squeezing.
Learning a lesson the hard way
Alisha avoided a near-fatal encounter. She is now using her platform to educate others about the triangle of death, albeit with a sense of humor.
She has posted several updates assuring concerned viewers that she is on the mend.
“Pimple update: I am fine. “I’m alive,” Alisha says in the latest one, adding with a chuckle, “I did not think that video was going to get 2 million views.”
Her TikToks make people feel as if they’ve cheated death.
“Just found out I’ve been getting lucky for 30 years,” wrote one astounded reader.
A few people reported having harrowing experiences after popping a pimple in the triangle of death.
“I almost died from this,” Courtney explained. “It’s no joke, was hospitalized for a week and a half and had surgery.”
Naturally, a few critics have shrugged off Alisha’s warning. “Try and stop me,” wrote one.
It is entirely up to them to decide whether or not to pop that zit. However, Alisha hopes that learning about her experience will cause some to pause before they pop.
“It’s insane how many people don’t understand the risks and think I was overreacting!” Alisha spoke.
