'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and starting to have a complexion problem. My grandmother says that I'm getting acne. I'm really worried about this. Grandma says that I'm eating too much junk food and that if I stop "eating that junk" my complexion will start to clear. Is this true? Please tell me what I should do to get rid of my red blotches. Is it possible that stress is causing my complexion problem? - Nameless, Hammond, Ind.

NAMELESS: My authority on complexion problems, including acne, is Dr. Jeffrey Lauber, a dermatologist in Southern California. This is his response to your complexion problem:

"There's just no evidence of any link between acne and foods except one. High iodine levels found in shellfish and some table salts may aggravate existing acne. Sometimes, an acne outbreak might be triggered by stress. A person's emotional state is often reflected in his physical state. There is no evidence that acne is always caused by stress

"Acne is a condition caused when skin pores become clogged. Here's what happens. The trouble begins usually during the teen years when the oil glands of the face, neck, chest or back begin to over secrete. The skin oil mixes with bacteria and dead skin cells harden deep inside the pores, forming a plug. Acne blemishes of several different forms result from this buildup of oil and bacteria beneath the skin surface.

"There are four basic acne forms — whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules.

When the pore is closed and oil can't escape, the swelling is called a whitehead or closed comedo. The pore that isn't closed but simply plugged with dead cells is called an open comedo or blackhead. (The color, by the way, is not caused by dirt; it's skin pigmentation.) When mounting pressure bursts the pore walls and spreads the oil and bacteria into the nearby tissues, the resulting red, irritated swelling is a papule or a pimple. At that point, the body sends white cells in to attack the infection, creating pus. That's a pustule.

Medical science has made great strides in acne treatment in the past several years. It is imperative that you visit a dermatologist immediately. Chances are very good that the doctor will provide a program that will prove effective in overcoming your acne problem."

Have Grandmother call and make an appointment for a consultation with a dermatologist — the sooner, the better. Unfortunately, the great majority of complexion concerns occur during the impressionable teen years.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM