Dr. Wallace: I like the color pink, and I mean I really, really like pink! My room is pink and a lot of my accessories are pink, and I like to wear pink clothes. In fact, my closet is full of them. This would not be an issue if I were a girl, but actually, I am a 16-year-old guy — and I’m not gay. It’s just that I like the color and I like the uniqueness of it, since not everyone is bold enough (or crazy enough!) to want to wear a lot of pink clothes.

I do get a few strange looks from people, and once in a while, I’m made fun of. But the good news is that my friends defend me and ask these people why they are wasting their time worrying about criticizing me. One of my friends once told a guy who laughed at me: “Why would you put down his fashion when you look like a homeless person with your rumpled look? Really?” Everyone in earshot had a good laugh, and the guy put his head down and quickly walked away.

I know that I like what I like, and I’m not afraid to show it, even if a few ignorant people put me down or make incorrect assumptions. Yet I wonder if something might be wrong with me because I simply can’t conform to the usual standards of society. — Big Fan of Pink, via email

Big Fan of Pink: It doesn’t matter what color you like! You absolutely deserve to dress how you wish as long as you have the appropriate amount of coverage for the situation or location you are in. Signs sometimes read, “No shirt, no shoes, no service,” but I have never seen a sign saying, “No service if wearing pink clothing!”

I think it’s fine for you to be a unique individual and to express yourself accordingly. It’s great that your friends look out for you, as well. I’m happy to tell you that over the course of my lifetime, I have seen a big movement toward increased individual expression via art, fashion, music and culture, and I think that’s great. What should matter to you how you feel about dressing the way you choose to. And for everyone else, after all, pink is just a color!

Dr. Wallace: My family and I have been using an enormous amount of hand sanitizer during this horrible pandemic. Since there are six of us in our home, we go through big containers of it pretty often. I notice that my mom buys various brands of sanitizers. Are all of them safe to use, or are there some that should be avoided? — Clean, Virus-Free Hands, via email

Clean, Virus-Free Hands: No, not all hand sanitizers are safe. The Food and Drug Administration has warned against those sanitizers that contain wood alcohol (aka methanol), which can be toxic.

Consumers are also reminded to keep hand sanitizers out of the reach of children and, in case of ingestion, to get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

The best sanitizers are ones that contain 60 percent or more of ethanol or isopropanol, both of which are potent enough to kill many different germs, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.

To avoid damage to your skin from the overuse of sanitizers, at home, don’t forget to wash your hands using soap and water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. This is still the best protection due to the washing motion and the flushing of contaminants away from your skin.

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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@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.

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