DR. WALLACE: My mother seldom allows me to eat luscious kinds of junk food, such as French fries or sweets of any kind, including chocolate, carbonated beverages and ice cream.

This is because she wants me to continue having a clear complexion. When my mom was a teen, she wasn't allowed to eat junk foods by her mother and my mom never had a complexion problem. Mom is convinced that you are what you eat and if you eat junk foods, you will have complexion problems.

I've been reading your column for over a year and you have said many times that pimples, acne, whiteheads and blackheads are not caused by foods you eat, including junk foods. If that's the case, what does cause facial blemishes? I need a reliable answer because my mom will not agree with you. — Nameless, La Porte, Ind.

NAMELESS: I have been in contact with several leading dermatologists (Dr. Jeffery Lauber in Southern California for one) and all agree that the dreaded teen complexion problems are not caused by food intake.

Dr. Alan Shalita, professor of dermatology at the State University of New York at Brooklyn, teaches that acne and other complexion problems are a natural part of maturing physically. He says that as teens mature, they start producing additional hormones that, in turn, increase the production of oil in the pores of the skin. This oil has nothing to do with the oil consumed on greasy French fries.

Complexion problems occur when the oil and dead skin cells turn into a plug that blocks the pore and pushes up the skin surface, creating a whitehead. A blackhead forms when the oil in a plug dries and mixes with pigment in the skin. A pimple or acne cyst occurs when bacteria normally present in the skin start multiplying and inflame the inside of the plugged pore.

A pimple is the scourge of most teens. An American Medical Association survey found that 89 percent of teenage girls and 78 percent of teen boys worry about complexion problems.

At the onset of a complexion problem, a visit to a dermatologist is paramount. Modern treatment can do wonders to improve or eliminate this problem. The earlier the treatment begins, the easier it is for a teen to have a clear complexion. P.S., go easy on junk foods. Most are loaded with bad fats and calories.

MOST OF US HAVE BEEN DUMPED

DR. WALLACE: I'm 15 and the guy I really cared for broke up with me to date another girl. This has really upset me. I feel depressed and in need of a real ego boost. It's a terrible feeling to be dumped. What can I do to get over it? Is it possible I may never feel good about myself ever again? I always wonder what my ex is doing. — Nameless, Porterville, Calif.

NAMELESS: Most of us have been dumped at one time or another and it always hurts. Here's the good news: you will recover!

It may take a little time, but the process of recovery can be hastened with a good attitude. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get involved more with friends and family. Indeed, use the pain you feel as an opportunity to broaden your horizons. Get involved in something new — volunteer work or some activity at school. The more you put yourself out there, the sooner you'll meet the person who will make you realize breaking up with that guy was the luckiest day of your life.

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 [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.