'Dr Pimple Popper' Season 8: Robert is no longer 'Mr Alligator Arms' as Dr Lee removes his 'eruptive xanthomas'
The most recent episode of 'Dr Pimple Popper' featured a man with a severe cardiac ailment who has been suffering from skin disease since he was 13 years old. Dr Sandra Lee meets Robert, who has an acute case of Eruptive Xanthomas that has even rattled her.
Robert, 37, of East Patchogue, New York, has cholesterol bumps on 90% of his arms, all the way up to his shoulder blades. His skin problem is described as a spate of benign tumors. His bumps are practically mirrored since they grow in the same pattern. They differ in size from a little pea to a small stone, some are hard and some are soft, yet none of them hurt.
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This patient has had a bumpy ride since he was a teenager... See if #DrPimplePopper can finally fix this extreme case tomorrow at 9/8c on TLC. pic.twitter.com/DEl7b6iC9S
— TLC Network (@TLC) August 2, 2022
His bumps initially appeared when he was 13, as a little rash above his elbow on the back, which surprised him. He discovered cholesterol bumps after undergoing a biopsy. The average person's cholesterol level should be in the 100s, but Robert's was in the 600s. He was told he shouldn't be walking since his cholesterol is so high. His day-to-day activities are hampered since he frequently scrapes his arms. When he decided to have them removed, the doctors told him that they could only remove 2-3 at once, which was discouraging. Robert had a difficult time in high school since he was bullied because of his skin issue. Among his numerous nicknames was Mr Alligator Arms. Robert, who is enthusiastic about cars, becomes disheartened during auto shows when passing folks give him a stern stare. Kevin, Robert's buddy of 22 years, attempts to encourage him, but Robert's skin condition makes it difficult for him to go out in public. Finally, Robert tells his mother, Theresa, that he is going to see a doctor to find a lasting solution to his problem.
When Robert sees Dr Lee, he tells her that a huge medical team was sent in to evaluate him and that they took photos of him and put him in medical publications, making him feel like a guinea pig at the time. He claims that doctors took a sample from the back of his arm to see whether it was malignant. Fortunately, it didn't grow back and is now just a minor scar, according to Robert. Dr Lee checks the scar and believes it is in good condition because it healed properly. After evaluating Robert, Dr Lee concludes that he has eruptive xanthomas (a rare skin condition caused by excessively high lipids in the blood). She also claims that the high cholesterol in his blood vessels is leaking out and into his skin. His skin is now collecting these fat-ladened cells, resulting in the formation of these little bumps.
Dr Lee is intrigued by it since she has never seen the illness evolve to this extent. She confesses that this is the most severe case of Eruptive Xanthomas she has ever seen. Dr Lee reveals to the viewers that Robert's cholesterol levels are so high that it's bursting through his skin and appearing as bumps. She goes on to say that a person with this many xanthomas is almost probably suffering from an inside medical ailment, which might provide a difficult decision when determining how to treat him. When Dr Lee inquires about Robert's triglycerides (a type of fat or lipid found in blood), he says that he has extremely high triglycerides. He also claims to have a blocked artery and to be on blood thinners and a variety of other drugs. In addition, he is diabetic. Dr Lee informs Robert that he has a major cardiovascular risk and a known blocked artery which is a worry for her when using numbing medication which can be hazardous to the heart. Dr Lee has a lot to worry about, starting with how much of the bumps will bleed and how they will heal. This is the problem with Robert's case, and she has no idea what she is getting herself into because she has never removed one.
Dr Lee begins by numbing the region while paying close attention to the volume she uses, as Robert is taking blood thinners, which makes him more prone to bruising. She makes the solution with a lower dose of Epinephrine and Lidocaine. Epinephrine temporarily constricts local blood arteries, but too much of it can be hazardous to the heart. She begins with a couple of them to test whether they start shooting blood so she can cauterize it and decide whether to proceed. Dr Lee used her loop cautery instrument, which burns but closes the wound. She removes many such lumps after determining the best course. When she realizes that there is no bleeding, she asks him whether he is okay with the spots he will end up with, and he responds reasonably confident.
Dr Lee continues with her treatment, but because she has never removed so many xanthomas in one sitting, she makes sure to do it fast and remove as many as she can without making him seem worse. She moves on to the underarm, taking care of the quantity of numbing medicine she applies because it is a dense region full of xanthomas and also sensitive there. Despite the fact that he was not bleeding, Dr Lee stops midway, stating grounds that she cannot use more than a particular amount of numbing due to his cardiac problems.
After a few more days of monitoring, Dr Lee summons Robert for a few more appointments and ultimately removes all the xanthomas from his arms. Eight weeks after his fourth surgery, Robert has said goodbye to both his bumps and his anxiety.
'Dr Pimple Popper' Season 8 airs on TLC every Wednesday at 9 pm.