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Dear Breakup Girl,

I have an acne problem and I can't get a date. What should I do?

-- Stefanie

Dear Stef,

Oh, sweetie. You should do four things:

1. Brace yourself. At my age, you get acne and gray hair.

2. Okay, don't panic. Breakup Girl just couldn't resist that joke.

3. See a dermatologist. Maybe you're like, "Duh!", maybe you're not. It's possible that you're traumatized enough that you haven't summoned the nerve to up and ask. These days, there are many effective treatments these days that kick Clearasil's butt: salycylic acid, Retin-A, antibiotics, the hormones in oral contraceptives, and, in more extreme cases, accutane. A doctor will help you figure out what might work. (New Yorkers, check it out, no hacky Dr. Zizmor jokes in this whole paragraph.)

4. Remember that acne is only skin deep. I am not just being perky; I am totally serious. One of the most popular boys I knew in college had the exact same problem. Did you get that? "One of the most popular boys in college!" He hid neither his bad skin nor his bad self from the world. I don't know where he got the wherewithal, but he did. It is possible. Sure, maybe it feels like it's hard for people to see past one's face. Well: unhunch your shoulders, look them in the eye, and give them something else to see. Good luck.

Love,
Breakup Girl

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