'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

DR. WALLACE: I have a few simple questions and would request a few simple answers, please. Why does acne show up in the teen years? Can acne be avoided? — Nameless, Knoxville, Ill.

NAMELESS: Your questions require more complex answers!

I receive thousands of letters a year from teens asking for advice, and many of these letters are regarding complexion problems, especially acne. I have dealt with the topic numerous times, but there are always new readers asking for this information. I feel duty-bound to provide help because this is often one of the biggest problems that teens face, and complexion problems can leave both emotional and physical scars if not treated properly. So, here are some crucial facts about skin problems that teens should know:

I've had the pleasure to meet and discuss complexion problems with Dr. Jeffrey Lauber, a Southern California dermatologist. He is licensed and board-approved and attends to many teens.

According to Dr. Lauber, acne is the term for pimples and complexion problems that trouble many young people. It 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 during the teen years. These glands 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, because doing so can leave scars.

Foods do not cause acne. People try all sorts of diets, but wind up frustrated because they don't help. In some people, certain foods do make acne worse. The most common ones are chocolate, nuts, cola drinks and root beer. A few people who drink large quantities of milk (over a quart daily) find this also 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. E-mail 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 2010 CREATORS.COM