'Dr Pimple Popper': Brittany seeks Dr Lee's help after being called 'monster' for bumps on body
Trigger warning: Graphic content
Our looks and appearances are one of the major contributing factors to our self-confidence and self-esteem. Remember the number of times you wanted to hide away in your room after spotting that annoying, pesky pimple, or when you're having a bad hair day and no amount of hairspray or gel can fix it or make it look presentable? So, it comes as no surprise that TLC's 'Dr Pimple Popper' is extremely popular.
Watching people with some rare skin conditions get medical help, just so they can look 'normal' and lead a normal life, is both gut-wrenching and oddly satisfying. Season 6 of 'Dr Pimple Popper' features some of the most challenging cases that Dr Sandra Lee has witnessed so far. The season's pilot episode featured Roger, a man with the biggest rhinophyma that Dr Lee has ever seen. After managing to successfully treat Roger, Dr Lee is ready to take on some more challenging cases — such as Brittany's.
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Brittany's life hasn't been easy with tiny bumps spread across her body from head to toe. In the trailer released by the network for the show, we see her revealing that she has been called a 'monster' due to her skin condition. "I’ve been told that I look like a monster,” she says. Brittany turned to Dr Lee for help. Later in the trailer, we see Brittany getting emotional while looking at herself in the mirror after Dr Lee's treatment and declaring, “I feel like my whole life has been about this moment." If you're wondering about Brittany's skin condition then we got you covered. Brittany was diagnosed with a condition called neurofibromatosis.
What is neurofibromatosis?
Neurofibromatosis is a disorder that you're born with because it's due to a genetic mutation and it causes the body to create tumors around nerve cells. These tumors are soft and usually the size of a pea. One of the earliest known examples of neurofibromatosis can be traced to an Inca child mummy (1480-1650). The mummy was found to have a "mosaic NF1". The neurofibromatosis or NF1 gene is located on chromosome 17. NF1 is a known cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This condition can severely impact one's quality of life, as there's a 50% chance of transferring it to one of your children.
This condition can't be cured. So, how can Dr Lee help Brittany? Well, 'Dr Pimple Popper' fans may recollect seeing a woman with a similar condition in an earlier season. An episode of 'Dr Pimple Popper: Pop Ups' featured a woman named Diane seeing Dr Lee with neurofibromatosis on her abdomen. Dr Lee helped Diane by smoothening out the skin so that it looks less bumpy and as natural as possible. Dr Lee explained, "The goal here is to try to remove, whether shave excision or trying to use a laser to smoothen out these bumps so that it looks less bumpy. It's not an easy process. For every bump that I have to remove on Diane, I have to numb the area. I have to use a needle and insert it in the area and anesthetize the area. It's a messy process, it's a very long-drawn-out and painful process."
Dr Lee used special scissors that had serrated edges so that it can grip the bump which can be cut and removed. "It was really surprising just how much that hurt, In fact, more than I expected," expressed Diane after her treatment. But she was very pleased with the outcome. Hopefully, Brittany too will be pleased with her treatment and be able to enjoy her life. The upcoming episode will also feature Leonardo, who has a fist-size growth on his head, but is terrified of doctors; and Tamyra, who has skin so thick that she shaves the bottom of her feet for relief.
You can watch Diane's treatment here
'Dr Pimple Popper' Season 6 airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on TLC.