There’s a reason why gross beauty videos are so hard to look away from.
Dr. Pimple Popper and a psychodermatologist explain.
Its not a sexy Pantene commercial involving lustrous lengths and a bouncy tune.
Its her scalp…under a microscope…and there is dust.
Why has this video garnered nearly two million views on YouTube?
Its the same answer to the question, How did Dr. Pimple Popper become a cultural fascination?
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or Why are people extracting ingrown hairs on my Explore page?
We drive by a car crash and rubberneck, for example.
We want to see whats gross even though we want to look away.
Watching a medical procedure that is usually deemed off-limits can initiate a similar cycle of emotional and physiological responses.
Its a lot of technical derm stuff, but around 2016, she found her niche.
I started posting on Instagram to show people a glimpse of what my specialty is really like.
People were commenting that the video was grossly satisfying, disgusting or that they were fascinated.
My underlying intent was to entertain viewers but to secretly educate them as well, she says.
This phenomenon extends beyond pimple popping.
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Similar content, like earwax removal, toenail clipping, and knuckle cracking has also gained popularity.
Dr. Howard suggests a few reasons why gross beauty videos have caught fire.
For starters, catharsis and release.
I think theres something normalizing in seeing someone, especially a respected dermatologist, doing pimple extractions.
Ultimately, this broad education can help to ease fears about seeking any kind of help when needed.
So, is there a downside?
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