DR. WALLACE: I'm a 17-year-old female in the 12th grade and I've got a big problem. I've never had a boyfriend and I don't know why. I've been told by many people that I am a very attractive person. I get good grades and I'm active, so I don't think there's anything wrong with me.

My girlfriends and I used to have a great time together, but not anymore. They all have boyfriends and I rarely see them socially now. If having a boyfriend is so great, then I want the joy of having one, too. Don't get me wrong. I have dated, but I haven't met anyone I would want for a boyfriend. I'm tired of staying home on weekends.

How do I go about finding a boyfriend? — T.J., Ames, Iowa.

T.J.: First of all, you need to relax about the situation and avoid letting your self-esteem hinge on whether you have a boyfriend or not. It may seem as though you're the only one who doesn't have one — or who sometimes stays home on Friday night — but it's not true.

You can't exactly set out to fall in love, because the process is too much of a mystery, often happening when you least expect it, but you can be systematic about improving your social life.

Your friends can be a big help. Since you're not getting as many dates as you'd like, ask a few close friends for their input as to why; tell them to be honest. Listen carefully, and ask questions. Then compare what you feel about yourself with their constructive evaluation. This should give you some answers. Also, start being more assertive — show a real interest in the guys you'd like to date. It won't take the guys long to start showing an interest in you.

And remember, dating should be fun. You don't need to fall in love with every guy you go out with. You can have fun on a date and not have it result in a serious romance. But eventually you will meet Mr. Right. Just be patient. I guarantee, he's out there right now, and he's as anxious to find you as you are to find him!

Don't forget, he might be a bit shy, so you can do the asking!

CAN TANNING BOOTHS CAUSE SKIN DAMAGE?

DR. WALLACE: I know the sun can cause damage to your skin. That's why I use a tanning booth. Now my boyfriend is telling me that he saw on television that tanning booths can also cause skin damage. Is this true? — Nameless, Tampa, Fla.

NAMELESS: Tanning salons are a lousy substitute for the sun. Indeed, "It is actually worse to go to the tanning parlor and get a little bit each day than it is to get an occasional sunburn," said James Spencer of New York's Mount Sinai Hospital and a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology.

There are three types of skin cancer caused by tanning: basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer, and melanoma cell skin cancer. Those who use tanning equipment have been found to be 2.5 times more likely to get squamous cell skin cancer than those who don't, according to a study reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. For basal cell skin cancer, the risk was 1.5 times greater. (Melanoma was not included in the study.) The risk was highest for those who first used tanning devices before age 20.

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.