DR. WALLACE: I'm 15 and have a mild complexion problem, but it seems to be getting worse. I wash my face several times a day, and I've totally eliminated greasy junk food from my diet, but my complexion hasn't improved. Is it possible that I have acne, and if so, what caused it, and how do I get rid of it? Is it possible that my complexion will improve by itself? —Rick, Tacoma, Wash.

RICK: I receive thousands of letters from teens asking for advice on many subjects. Complexion problems are always important to teens, and I try to answer as many questions in my column as I can without boring the regular readers, but I know that many new readers have not had the opportunity to learn some of the facts about skin problems, mainly acne. I'm well aware that complexion problems can leave both emotional and physical scars if not treated properly.

I've had the pleasure to meet and discuss complexion problems with southern California dermatologist Dr. Jeffrey Lauber. He is licensed and board approved and attends to many teens who have skin problems. According to Dr. Lauber, acne is the term for pimples and complexion problems that trouble many young people and is only a skin problem and has nothing to do with a person's general health. Acne is caused by the oil glands of the skin breaking open. At puberty, the oil glands in the skin start producing an oily material called sebum, which is discharged onto the skin's surface. Sometimes the wall of the oil gland breaks and spills the sebum within the skin. The sebum irritates the skin tissues and causes redness, swelling and pus — in other words, a pimple. In mild cases only a few oil glands break open; in severe acne, many do. Acne runs in families. It's impossible to prevent acne, since there is no way of changing one's oil glands.

Dirt does not cause acne, despite what you may have been told. The oil on the skin's surface does no harm. Special soaps, astringents and acne cleansers are a waste of money. Wash your face with ordinary soap and water only as much as you need to keep it clean. Too much washing and scrubbing can cause skin irritation. Do not pick, squeeze or otherwise manipulate your pimples; it can leave scars.

Foods do not cause acne. Many persons try all sorts of diets and are frustrated because they don't help. In some people, certain foods do make acne worse. The most common ones are chocolate, nuts and cola drinks. A few people who drink large quantities of milk (more than a quart daily) find that this worsens their acne. Aggravation of acne by food varies from person to person.

Unfortunately, there is no medical miracle to prevent acne, but it can be controlled by proper medical treatment. In recent years, several effective antibiotics have been developed. Whenever a teen feels uncomfortable about his or her complexion, it is a signal that a trip to a dermatologist is a must!

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 [email protected]. 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.