Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-01

what parent doesn't get a
terrific thrill in buying the
first bike for his child and
teaching him to ride it? BUT
DON'T FORGET the respon-
sibilities you are placing in
the youngsters hands. Teach
him that the bike. carelessly
used. can be a vehicle of
destruction. Whether he
takes 1t to deliver papers,
rides to school. goes on an
errand or just for fun, it's
your job to tell him that he
must forever be on the alert.
Tell him not to trust car
drivers. Tell him that Just
because he can see the car
doesn't mean that the auto
driver can see him. Have
him learn to obey all traffic
signals and be especially
watchful at intersections.
Perhaps it's your job as a
parent to be sure that his
bike has a good reflector and
brakes. Why all this to-do
about bikes? I've just been
reading that 400 children are
killed and $4,000 injured
each year In bike accidents.
. 4 A#
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: I am
10, and the only thing that
gives me any confidence in
high school is that / am
somewhat of q football
celebrity. But I really have
g. terrible inferiority feel
ing because I suffer from
acne. I feel like running and
hiding my face when the
fellows and girls give me a
CHEEKY greeting in the halls.
Will you please write about
this awful condition.
Mr.. Y.
READERS MAY recall
that I have said acne is as
important to the unhappy
youngster as serious illness
like heart disease or cancer
is to the older patient. In |
some cases it rips and tears
the patients psyche apart.
When he comes home from
the daily problem of facing
his smooth complexioned
friends, he virtually locks
himself in his room so he
won't have to show what he
considers to be "his terrible
looking face" He doesn't
make dates. doesn't go to
student social affairs, and
lives a miserable life.
So you see, Mr.. Y, I know
exactly what you mean
when you describe your
feelings. Acne is no joke.
But before I answer your
question, I'd like to ask you
one: Are you getting medi-
cal treatment?
No matter how hopeless
your acne seems to be, don't
try to treat it yourself. Find |
yourself some sympathetic
doctor who will act as Zine
hacker" for you when you
most need encouragement.
Otherwise, you will sink
deeper into hopeleSsness.
Now. for the acne itself.
We think that some endocrine
irnbalance at the time of pu-
berty land sometimes into
the twenties) causes the oil
glands in the skin to Oversee
crete. This plugs up many
hair canals, blackheads form,
infection sets in, and then
come the pimples.
We know of no actual way
to prevent the condition ex-
cept by advising frequent
cleansing of the face with
soap. special medicated soaps
and, If indicated, antibiotics.
Although diet doesn't play q
d efinite part, experience
seems to show that you'd be
better off without chocolate.
nuts and soft drinks in your
diet. Sometimes X-rays are
used, but usually I have not
recommended this form of
treatment.
The thing to remember is
that this course Of puberty"
doesn't last forever. I sup
pose it's small comfort, new
ertheleSs it's nice to know
that some day your face will
clear up completely. To re-
peat: Visit your doctor regu-
larry, even if all he seems to
be able to do for you is bring
you comfort and understand
ing. I wish I could convince
you that your face looks more
terrible when you look into a
mirror, than it does to your
classmates who pass you in
the hall
\ =
(Bell Syndicate Feature)
Dr.. Steincrohn's leatlet,
"HotD to Manage Your Memo