Woman Pops Pimple and Ends Up With Permanent Scar After Nightmare Cyst Infection
What started as an ordinary pimple turned into a traumatic ordeal for 30-year-old Stephanie Warkotsch, who now bears a permanent scar on her cheek after popping what she thought was a hormonal breakout. Stephanie, from Melbourne, Australia, noticed a small lump on her cheek in October and tried home remedies, including a face mask and warm compress, before deciding to pop it after a week.
“It came to the surface, and I just popped it and thought, great, it’s all gone,” she told Newsweek. But the lump returned a week later, growing bigger and more painful.
Realizing it wasn’t a normal pimple, Stephanie sought medical advice. Several doctors refused to pop it, and as the lump—nicknamed “Big Betty”—continued to grow, Stephanie developed flu-like symptoms. “It was really painful when it popped, and what came out wasn’t like a normal pimple,” she recalled. “I was getting feverish, couldn’t sleep on that side of my face, and it was uncomfortable for a few weeks.”
By early November, an ultrasound confirmed the lump was an infected sebaceous cyst caused by her attempt to pop it. She was prescribed antibiotics for four weeks but ultimately needed surgery. “I freaked out because I knew the only way to get it out was to surgically remove it. I really wanted the antibiotics to minimize it, to reduce the size of the scar. But as it was getting bigger, it ended up being half of my cheek,” Stephanie said.
On November 13, surgeons removed the cyst, which had spread across her cheek and sinus area due to her earlier intervention. The surgery left her with an open wound and a curved scar that followed her natural facial lines. For weeks, Stephanie couldn’t smile or wash her face, struggling to accept that her initial attempt to pop a pimple led to permanent scarring.
Plastic surgeon Steven A. Hanna explained the risks of popping cysts: “Sebaceous cysts are encapsulated by a sac that contains keratin and sebum. Popping a cyst can introduce bacteria, causing infection and making surgical removal more difficult.”
Stephanie’s experience, shared in a viral TikTok video with over 10 million views, serves as a warning to others. “I’ve picked my skin my whole life, but this is the biggest wake-up call for me,” she said. “I’m just not touching anything from now on.”
Her story has sparked thousands of comments, with viewers both sympathizing and learning from her ordeal. “Never pop a pimple in the triangle of death area on your face,” one user warned. Another added, “New fear unlocked—I need to not squeeze my pimples.”