A mother of three from New York, Lish Marie, landed in urgent care with four prescription medications after popping a cystic pimple below her nostril in the face's "triangle of death," a dangerous zone where infections can race to the brain, potentially triggering blindness, stroke, paralysis, or even death. “Please don’t squeeze,” Lish warned on TikTok, reflecting on her harrowing experience.
Lish Marie, known on TikTok as @lishmarie1, spotted the cyst-like pimple—a common nuisance—and popped it, unaware of the peril. Within four hours, her face’s left side ballooned, causing intense pain and a lopsided smile where only one side lifted. “Only one side of my face could move,” she recalled, describing the alarming swelling . Rushing to urgent care, she received antibiotics and steroids to fight the infection.
I think I caught mine extremely quick, within hours, so I’m on a ton of meds.Lish Marie
This rapid response likely prevented the infection from progressing to more severe complications, such as septicemia. Catching it early likely saved her, and she fully recovered in three days, though her smile was slightly off after 24 hours.
The "triangle of death," or "danger triangle of the face," stretches from the nose’s bridge to the mouth’s corners. NYC dermatologist Dr. Mark Strom revealed in a TikTok that veins here link directly to the brain via the cavernous sinus. “Popping pimples in the center of the face can be particularly dangerous,” Dr. Strom stated, explaining how squeezing creates “a small wound where bacteria can enter the bloodstream, leading to infection”.
Popping a pimple creates an open wound, letting bacteria from hands or air slip into the bloodstream, risking severe infections like brain abscesses, meningitis, or septic cavernous sinus thrombosis.
The unique vascular structure of this area, with its valveless veins, allows for rapid bacterial spread, making early intervention critical. Though rare, these can escalate fast, but modern antibiotics can treat them if caught early, per Cleveland Clinic experts. The valveless veins in this area allow bacteria to spread quickly, making early intervention crucial; modern antibiotics can treat it if caught early.
Lish’s scare isn’t unique. TikTok user Hope (@imlesbianflavored) shared a 2023 ordeal where a similar pop led to a staph infection, more painful than childbirth, leaving a scar. “It was worse than childbirth,” Hope said, highlighting the excruciating pain and lasting scar. Commenters on Lish’s video shared chilling stories: one mom wrote, “Happened to my daughter. We spent a week in the hospital and she had to have surgery on her face”, while another’s son battled a staph infection.
Another user shared, “I almost d*ed from this. It’s no joke, was hospitalized for a week and a half and had surgery”. In Australia, Stephanie Warkotsch needed surgery for an infected sebaceous cyst after a popping attempt.
These stories underline the unpredictability of infections in this area, as even minor interventions can spiral into emergencies requiring extensive medical intervention. For instance, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, which are harder to treat, have been reported in similar cases.
Dermatologists warn against touching pimples in this zone. Dr. Strom called the central face a "particularly dangerous" spot. Dr. Mamina Turegano, via Instagram, urged using spot treatments, pimple patches, or seeing a dermatologist instead.
When popping a pimple, it’s very important that you’re not applying a lot of pressure; otherwise, you’re gonna get a lot more inflammation and result in scarring.Dr. Mamina Turegano, Dermatologist
Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Alok Vij suggested warm compresses or zit stickers. He also noted that over-the-counter treatments like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can effectively reduce pimple size without risking infection.
Specific products, such as COSRX Acne Pimple Patches, which use hydrocolloid to absorb impurities, or Peace Out Acne Healing Dots , infused with salicylic acid and aloe vera, are recommended for Acne Pimple Patches. For persistent acne, consulting a dermatologist for professional extraction or prescription treatments like retinoids can prevent complications.
(Rh/Eth/MKB/MSM/SE)