DEAR HARRIETTE: I have struggled with body acne for years. I have gone to various dermatologists and receive the same answer: I will have to live with my scars and occasional acne. To combat how insecure I feel about my body acne, I apply full-coverage foundation to the parts of my body that are exposed. My insecurities mostly go unnoticed unless someone tries getting too close to me. My makeup has rubbed off on people! I feel so awkward whenever this happens, and I usually deny it being me. Should I offer to clean people’s stained clothing? I feel so embarrassed whenever this happens, but I usually blame whoever came too close to me and caused it to rub off. – Staining and Running, Baltimore

DEAR STAINING AND RUNNING: While full-coverage foundation can mask severe acne from a distance, it is probably making your condition worse; the coverage makes it hard for your skin to breathe. I recommend that you consider holistic options to your treatment. Read up on natural remedies for acne, including drinking significantly more water, reducing or eliminating fried foods and extra fat, dramatically reducing sugar and increasing exercise. Learn about essential oils and experiment to see if oils such as tea tree, lavender, juniper berry and clary sage help to reduce your outbreaks. Come out from behind the mask of makeup, and figure out natural ways to heal your body.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Today I saw a pregnant woman making her way up a flight of stairs. She was clearly having a difficult time and was holding onto the rail. She was probably about seven months pregnant, and I wasn’t sure if I had the social responsibility to do something. The building has an elevator, so she clearly chose the stairs for a reason. I don’t think she was endangering her baby by getting some exercise in. I did not offer my assistance and simply walked behind her until we reached the second floor. A woman behind me rushed up and asked the pregnant woman if she was all right and if she needed anything. I guess I might have misunderstood the situation. Should I have asked this woman if she needed help or knew about the elevator? I assumed she consciously chose the stairs. – Social Responsibility, Brooklyn, New York

DEAR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Walking behind the pregnant woman was a silent way of supporting her. Had she experienced a stumble or any lack of footing, you were there to break her fall. Could you have spoken up to ask her if she needed help? Sure. Don’t beat yourself for not asking. In the future, whether someone is pregnant or has another potential sensitivity to a situation, it is OK to speak up and invite what may seem to be an easier option. In this case, it could have been, “Miss, there is an elevator. Would you like to use that instead?” or, “May I help carry your bags?”

— Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to [email protected] or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.