A medical professional has issued a caution about the dangers of popping pimples in a specific area of the face known as the ‘triangle of death.’
Typically, squeezing a pimple is not linked with significant health risks, although it’s generally discouraged as it often worsens the situation.
However, a doctor on TikTok insists that popping a pimple in a certain facial region is particularly hazardous.
He warns that the potential complications from doing so could even affect the brain.
But what exactly is the ‘triangle of death’?
This area includes the region on your face extending from the corners of your nose to the corners of your mouth, encompassing the entire nose.
The small triangle has direct access to the brain through the cavernous sinus, a network of veins located behind the eyes.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “An infection in the danger triangle — like from a picked pimple, or a nose piercing gone wrong — has a small but not impossible chance of travelling from your face right to your brain, without much distance to cover between them.”
Dr. Suraj Kukadia, known as Dr. Sooj on TikTok, has explained that popping a pimple in this area ‘could kill you.’
Dr. Sooj addressed the issue in a TikTok video, stating: “Do not pop a pimple in the triangle of death. Don’t do it, it could kill you.
“I mean it probably won’t, but is it really worth the risk?
“The triangle runs from the bridge of your nose down to the corners of your mouth. The veins here drain backwards into the cavernous sinus and this is a deep vein inside the skull that is very very close to the brain.
“Now, if you pop a pimple in this area, you are opening up that area to new bacteria and if it gets infected, that bacteria can spread into those veins. In very rare cases, this can cause a cavernous sinus thrombosis, which is a blood clot or an infection in the brain and it can be life-threatening.”
Dr. Sooj advises that if you do pop a spot in this triangle, it’s crucial to know the warning signs.
“Now, most pimples won’t do this, but it’s why we always advise against picking in that zone. So if a spot in the triangle becomes red, swollen or painful, especially if you feel unwell with a fever or a swelling spreading across the face, you need a really urgent medical opinion, perhaps even a visit to the emergency department,” he noted.
“So please resist the urge to squeeze; you can instead treat it with topical creams, warm compresses and let it settle, your brain will thank you for it.”