Many people are guilty of popping a pimple the moment it appears, convinced that a quick squeeze will make it disappear faster. But doctors are now warning that this common habit can be far more dangerous than it seems—especially if the blemish is in a certain area of the face.

That lesson came as a shock to Lish Marie, a mother of three who noticed what looked like a simple cyst-like pimple just beneath her nostril. Like most people, she didn’t think twice. She gave it a squeeze, popped it, and went on with her day.

Within hours, everything changed.

Lish began experiencing significant swelling on one side of her face, accompanied by intense pain. When she tried to smile, only one side of her mouth moved. The other remained stiff and unresponsive. Alarmed by the sudden symptoms, she went straight to urgent care.

By the end of her visit, she had been prescribed four different medications, including antibiotics and steroids. Doctors explained that the pimple she had popped was located in a region of the face known as the “triangle of death”—an area where infections can, in rare but serious cases, spread directly to the brain.

Lish later shared her experience in a TikTok video, explaining that she had popped the pimple without any concern and only realized something was wrong when the swelling and facial paralysis-like symptoms set in. According to her, the pain was severe and concentrated exactly where the pimple had been.

“I think I caught mine extremely quick, within hours, so I’m on a ton of meds,” she said in the video.

Fortunately, early treatment made a major difference. Just one day after starting medication, she began to feel relief. Three days later, she was back to normal.

Medical professionals say Lish was lucky.

The so-called “triangle of death” refers to the area of the face that runs from the bridge of the nose down to the corners of the mouth. According to dermatologists, this region is uniquely risky because of the way blood vessels are connected.

Dermatologist Dr. Mark Strom explains that pimples in this facial zone should never be popped at home. The reason lies in the veins beneath the skin.

“The area of the face from the bridge of the nose down to the corners of the mouth has veins that connect directly to the brain via a blood vessel called the cavernous sinus,” he explained.

When a pimple is squeezed or popped, it creates a small open wound. Bacteria from the skin can then enter the bloodstream through that opening. In most parts of the body, this may lead only to a localized infection, but in this particular facial zone, the bacteria can travel to the brain.

“Popping pimples in the center of the face can be particularly dangerous,” Dr. Strom said. “Squeezing the pimple leaves a small wound where bacteria can enter the bloodstream, leading to infection.”

In rare but severe cases, such infections can result in complications such as vision loss, stroke, paralysis, or even death.

Because of these risks, dermatologists strongly advise leaving pimples in this area alone and seeking professional treatment instead. If a blemish becomes painful, swollen, or persistent, medical evaluation is the safest option.

That said, some dermatologists acknowledge that patients will sometimes attempt to pop pimples anyway. Dr. Mamina Turegano emphasizes that extreme caution is necessary if a pimple in this area must be treated.

She advises thoroughly sterilizing both the skin and the hands before doing anything. Rather than squeezing, she recommends using a diabetic lancet—a very small, fine needle—to gently open the surface with minimal trauma.

“Then apply pressure with two cotton swabs to help absorb the contents,” she explained.

Even with proper technique, Dr. Turegano stresses that pressure should be kept to an absolute minimum. Excessive force can cause inflammation, scarring, and significantly increase the risk of infection. Most importantly, she cautions that people should avoid taking any chances with pimples located in the so-called triangle of death.

Lish’s experience serves as a reminder that what looks like a harmless skin issue can escalate quickly. While popping pimples may seem like a quick fix, doctors agree that, especially in certain areas of the face, it’s a risk not worth taking.