DEAR ABBY: My girlfriend, whom I have been dating for more than a year, has isolated herself from me and all her friends because her makeup came off while she was in a hot tub and everyone saw her without it. She's insecure about her appearance and has worn heavy makeup every day since she was 12. When she went into the hot tub, the heat melted it off, and when she saw it was gone, she started crying and left the party early.
She hasn't talked to me or any of her friends since. Her brother said she was embarrassed about being seen without makeup and doesn't want to talk to anyone. It has been two weeks since I last spoke to her, and she hasn't even talked to her sister in more than a week. I don't know what I should do. -- HOT TUB MELTDOWN
DEAR HOT TUB MELTDOWN: Assuming that your girlfriend isn't an actress, model or other celebrity who must be camera-ready at every moment, she seems overly preoccupied with her appearance. Unless she has an unsightly skin condition she's self-conscious about, her extreme overreaction isn't normal. If she is a minor, her parents should be told what's going on so they can get her some psychological help, because she appears to need it. If she's an adult, then the person who should urge her to do so is you.