Thanks for Forgiving Me

DR. WALLACE: I read in your column that a dermatologist told you that no suntan is good for the recipient! That might be true, but every girl I know thinks that a tan makes a girl more attractive and makes her look healthy. Who wants to look as white as a sheet? I want to look cool now as a 17-year-old, young woman. I really don't care that when I'm 50, I'll have more wrinkles than the lady who looked like an albino when she was a teen. I believe in living for the moment, not worrying how I look when I draw my first social security check. I've tried using spray-on gunk that makes you look like a bronze goddess, but that just doesn't cut it.

You give good advice about avoiding sex, laying off drugs, booze and tobacco products, but you are "burned out" when it comes to tanning. It could be that looking healthy is a girl thing. If so, then I forgive you. - Nameless, Vicksburg, Miss.

NAMELESS: When it comes to this health issue, I can only give you these facts from a dermatologist: When the sun or a tanning booth changes the pigment in the skin to a darker color, damage has been caused. It's up to the readers to decide what is best for them, but I do feel much better that you have forgiven me. Thanks. Also, please remember to lather generously with an effective sunscreen when you venture out in the sun, and always wear sunglasses to protect your beautiful eyes.

ROBERTO IS ALMOST PERFECT

DR. WALLACE: I've been seeing Roberto for about seven months. When we are alone, he is a great guy. He is sweet, kind, gentle and treats me like a princess. He also has a lot of guy friends. When I'm with him and he's with his buddies, he treats me like a slave. He calls me nasty names and orders me around. If I don't jump at his command, he threatens to "clean my clock." I really don't think that he would physically hurt me, but sometimes he scares me.

When we are alone I ask him why he is so mean, and he says that he has to keep up his image as a tough guy to his friends. They talk to their women the same way when we are all together. I know these guys are just trying to be macho, but I live in Arizona — not Mexico — and I don't like to be treated this way. What should I do? If Roberto didn't have the macho mentality, he would be almost perfect. - Rosa, Nogales, Ariz.

ROSA: Don't allow yourself to be humiliated by a guy who is trying to be Mr. Tough Guy in front of his friends who appear to have the same mentality. Don't ever be with Roberto when he is with his friends, and if that's going to be difficult, insist that Roberto treat you with respect or its "Adios, Roberto"!

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 rwallace@galesburg.net. 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.

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