DR. WALLACE: I'm not going steady so I do date around. Because of this, I get a few guys who ask me out, but I don't want to go out with them. I also don't want to hurt their feelings or to appear as stuck-up or a snob.

Last night a guy who is in my English class called and asked me to go to a party with him on a Saturday night in a couple of weeks. I told him that I already had a date for that night. (I didn't). He said that he understood and would call me another time later. I really don't want to go out with this guy, and I'm sure he will call me again. What's the best way to tell a guy "Thanks, but no thanks," without hurting his feelings? — Nameless, Philadelphia, Pa.

NAMELESS: A simple, "Thanks for the invitation, but I'd rather not go," is sufficient. This way, the guy knows exactly where he stands with you and he can now move on to find someone who will appreciate his charms.

DON'T SQUEEZE BLACKHEADS!

DR. WALLACE: Lately, I have been getting a lot of blackheads. I am aware that they are caused by clogged pores, not dirt specks. I want to get rid of these terrible looking things on my face, but I don't want to hurt my skin. My best friend said that she puts a very warm, wet washcloth on her face for 10 minutes, and then she pops the blackhead with her fingernails. She says most come out easily. She only has trouble with about one in five.

Do you recommend her method as a good way to remove my blackheads? If not, do you have a better way? — Nameless, Erie, Pa.

NAMELESS: Blackhead extraction should be performed only under the supervision of a dermatologist.

The careful removal of blackheads can, indeed, make the skin look better. But when the procedure is performed improperly - that is, by fingernail - squeezing can cause a rupture below the skin surface, leading to inflammation.

OUR SCHOOL IS FULL OF NERDS

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 13-year-old girl who has a big problem. I used to be in the popular crowd at school but I did something very stupid about three months ago and now none of the popular kids talk to me. I want to be friends with them again, but I don't know what to do. Since I've been banned by the "in" group I have to eat my lunch with all the nerds, and, believe me, our school is full of them. I'm afraid if I approach the popular crowd they will just make fun of me. What should I do? — Sandy, Chicago, Ill.

SANDY: Divide and conquer. Go to several members of the "popular" group individually and ask for their guidance. If two or three of them intercede on your behalf it could influence the group in your favor. However, it appears that you have classified all the teens at your school as the popular group or the nerds — and that's a huge mistake on your part. Why not try to make friends with some of the "not-in" crowd. You might be surprised how much you have in common with them.

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.