DR. WALLACE: I'm a 15-year-old girl and I have a terrible problem with acne. I do not eat junk food and I exercise regularly, plus I wash my face at least 5 or 6 times every day. I was not a bad-looking girl before, but my self-esteem is now zero because of all these blemishes. I try to cover them up with make-up, but I'd rather have them gone instead of just covered up.

I've asked my parents to take me to a doctor, but they just say that there is no cure for pimples and a lot of people get them but they eventually will go away. My parents always read your column, so will you please tell my parents to help me now — not to wait for "eventually." — Jan, Seattle, Wash.

MOM AND DAD: It's extremely important that your daughter consult with a dermatologist very soon. There was a time when time (and time alone) was the only cure for this dreaded teenage curse, but modern science has developed drugs that improve complexion problems dramatically or eliminate acne completely.

As you can understand, Jan's self-esteem is zero because of her complexion problem. Please see that she gets the medical treatment she needs immediately. It will make your daughter extremely happy. And when she becomes happy, her parents will have a more enjoyable life.

DRUG ABUSE RISES FOR GIRLS

TEENS: There was a time when boys had a higher percentage of smokers, drinkers, and drug abusers. But times have changed. According to the White House drug czars, teenage girls are trying marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes at a higher rate than the boys. A Survey on Drug Use and Health by the National Drug Policy director indicates that 1.5 million girls ages 12 to 17 started smoking marijuana compared to 577,000 boys. The nationwide survey based on 70,000 families also discovered that girls surpassed boys in abusing prescription drugs.

Dr. Warren Seigel of the New York State chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics said that boys and girls react to these drugs differently and that research has shown that girls may become addicted to nicotine faster than boys and even moderate drinking can disrupt their growth and the development of their reproductive systems. Dr. Seigel says that it is imperative that parents understand that these differences exist, and understood the difference between girls and boys, because it requires some different parenting skills. Dr. Ralph Lopez at Cornell University's Weill Medical College said that teenage girls are at risk for drug and alcohol use because they feel pressure to succeed academically and also to look perfect. "We don't do that to the boys," he said.

I'LL BE HARD TO JUDGE

DR. WALLACE: I judge people by the music they listen to. So that I can judge you, please tell me your five favorite singers. — Dolly, Columbus, Ohio.

DOLLY: My favorite singers are: Luciano Pavarotti, Hank Williams Sr., Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, and Nat King Cole.

Trust me. I'll definitely be hard to judge!

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@thegreatestgift.com. 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.