Monaco said it initially seemed like a regular monthly pimple. When it wouldn't pop, she used a sterilized pimple-popping tool. She immediately felt dizzy and experienced ringing in her ears.
"I knew I had caused a problem. The pain was concentrated under my right nostril, spreading down to my lip and even up the side of my face," Monaco recounted on 22/8.
Five hours later, she woke up in excruciating pain. The right side of her face was swollen, her smile was lopsided, her right ear was blocked, and smiling or talking caused pain. The mother of three had to ask her husband to watch the children while she went to the hospital.
"The emergency room staff were kind and tried not to make me feel embarrassed. They were glad I came in, as the swelling was so severe. Immediate treatment was essential due to the high risk of infection in this area," she shared.
Monaco was prescribed 4 different medications to manage her symptoms and prevent the infection from spreading, and was later discharged. Her recovery at home is progressing well.
After the incident, she posted a warning video on TikTok, which has attracted 7.8 million views. "I just wanted people to learn from my experience. After reading the comments from those who had never heard of the 'triangle of death,' I'm glad I did it," Monaco said.
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Alisha Monaco had no idea that popping a simple pimple could be so dangerous. Photo: Jam Press |
Alisha Monaco had no idea that popping a simple pimple could be so dangerous. Photo: Jam Press
Dermatologist Dr. Alok Vij explains that the "triangle of death" is a roughly triangular area on the face formed by the bridge of the nose, the corners of the mouth, and the upper lip. You can easily locate this area by placing your index fingers and thumbs on the corners of your mouth, and then placing your middle fingers on the bridge of your nose.
The main reason this area is called the "triangle of death" is because it has a network of blood vessels that connect directly to the brain. Specifically, the veins in this area drain into a large network of veins called the cavernous sinus, located just behind the eye sockets.
When you squeeze pimples, pluck nose hairs, or injure the skin in this area, bacteria can easily enter the bloodstream. From there, they can travel directly to the cavernous sinus, causing serious and life-threatening complications such as sepsis, abscesses, meningitis, or cavernous sinus thrombosis.
Although these complications are uncommon, the potential risk is significant, so dermatologists strongly advise against aggressively manipulating this sensitive area. Instead of squeezing pimples, you should use specialized treatments or consult a dermatologist for safe removal.
Hoang Dung (Daily Star)
