DR. WALLACE: I'm a faithful reader of your column, so I trust you can help me. I'm a 14-year-old boy. I'm starting to get a lot of pimples, and that's not good. I'm the oldest child, and I have three younger brothers and two younger sisters, and my mother is expecting a baby in six weeks.

We are not poor, but our family is on a strict budget. I know you tell most kids who have complexion problems to visit a dermatologist, but that is out as an option for me. Do you have a good home remedy you can pass along? I'd be happy just to have my complexion improve even if it didn't clear up entirely. Also, does junk food cause a bad complexion? —Jacob, Salt Lake City, Utah

JACOB: I do encourage teens with complexion concerns to visit a dermatologist because recent medical research has provided these doctors effective medical treatments that have been successful in improving or eliminating complexion problems.

However, those teens with skin blemishes who do not visit a dermatologist can sometimes improve their complexions with a good home remedy. It seems that Mother Nature could be a little kinder during the transition from childhood to adulthood. But during this phase, the body produces an abundance of oil. Complexion problems develop when the oil (sebum) mixes with the skin's natural bacteria and dead cells, causing pores to clog. The result is the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads: When these are irritated, they erupt into acne, aka pimples.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends these steps to counter the outbreak of facial blemishes. They require little money and can be done at home. Both girls and boys can benefit from these suggestions:

1. Wash gently (no scrubbing) twice a day with mild soap and water to remove "pore-cloggers" like oil and dead skin cells.

2. Use a small amount of over-the-counter acne medication on your "T-zone" (forehead, nose, cheeks and chin) where breakouts are most likely to occur.

3. Avoid oil-based sunscreens, cosmetics and other toiletries. Look for products labeled "non-comedogenic" or "non-acnegenic," meaning they do not contain additives that can clog pores.

4. Keep it clean. That is, anything that touches your face should be sanitary. For girls, skip the hairstyling products if you have a hairstyle that's face-framing, like bangs. Sprays and hair-molding products usually contain chemicals that are notorious pore-blockers. If you must mousse, wash your hands and face after applying.

5. Keep hands off. Picking at pimples can cause infection and scarring.

6. Get moving. Exercise improves blood circulation, which means better nourishment for the skin to help build new cells.

7. Eat healthy. Eating junk food won't cause pimples, but a well-nourished, healthy body will repair itself faster and more efficiently.

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.