Dr. Pimple Popper Tells Us When It's Time To See A Dermatologist - Exclusive

We've heard it time and time again by practically every dermatologist: Never pop your own pimples. But let's be honest, we've all done it. However much we hate to admit it, it's something we've all been guilty of on more than one occasion. Getting rid of that bothersome blemish is just so easy, and it's oddly satisfying, too. It may seem like an innocent enough action, but if you find yourself popping them on a daily basis, it may be time to see a dermatologist.

How far is too far? When exactly should we have our pores looked at by a professional? If you're someone who's been debating going to a doctor, now is probably the best time to do it. "If people think about that, they think, 'Maybe I should see a dermatologist,' they probably should," Dr. Sandra Lee — a.k.a. celebrity dermatologist Dr. Pimple Popper — exclusively told The List. "I think you trust your instinct, especially when it comes to even non-pimples, like moles or strange looking bumps."

While a pimple here or there usually isn't anything to worry about, there are instances where acne can get overwhelming. A dermatologist should be on speed dial "if you have severe acne, if you have cystic or nodular acne, or a lot of acne bumps that are deep under the skin, because that has an absolute risk of scarring," Lee told us. "And that's what you're trying to prevent."

Taking care of pesky pimples is something that can be easily treated by a professional. If you wait too long to see a dermatologist, however, serious scarring can occur that can be a little trickier to take care of. "Scarring can be lifelong and scarring can be very difficult to treat," she said. "So you really want to prevent that in the first place." There's no use trying to get rid of some annoying acne only to leave behind battle scars to show for it.

Suffering from acne isn't a life or death situation, but it sure can feel like one. If you find yourself staying home instead of heading out somewhere because of your pimples, you definitely should set up an appointment with a dermatologist. 

The way we look has a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves. Broken out skin can definitely affect our self-esteem. And Dr. Sandra Lee sees many patients on and off of her reality television show Dr. Pimple Popper who refuse to leave their homes because of how they look. 

When you think about it, dermatology goes a lot deeper than just treating our skin. It's a way of treating our idea of self image as well. "Your skin is your armor. It's your shield. It's your way you present yourself to the world," Lee told The List. "And if that way you present yourself is different, or people perceive it as different, and you feel left out or you feel very embarrassed about it, it greatly affects your life." Luckily, ridding yourself of acne is as easy as setting up an appointment with a dermatologist.

New episodes of Dr. Pimple Popper are currently running weekly on discovery+.