Hi Steve
Firstly, please excuse the really long post: I'm incapable of being succinct!
Thanks a mill for the feedback. I must say I am REALLY torn at the moment. I am really 'anti-drug' anyway and, as I said above, due to bad reactions I haven't touched anything, not even a paracetemol, for the last three years.
However, having refused and refused to take them, I've finally caved in regarding the anit-TNF drugs (I feel really bad saying that, given all the trouble so many people on this site have had trying to get hold of them, but I was--and am still--concerned about the side effects / the newness of the drug, etc.) which I'll be starting hopefully later this year, and kinda thought, what the hell, in for a penny in for a pound, I may as well try out Accutane while I'm waiting to go on the AS drugs: my dermatologist has also been trying to get me on it for the past five or so years, but I was always really put off by the horror stories about it, though I do have friends for whom it really was a 'miracle' drug. My main motivation in taking it I suppose is that it is really now or never: if I do start Enbrel or Humira and if it does work for me (fingers crossed), I'll potentially be on it for the rest of my life and wouldn't dream of combining it with another strong drug like Accutane.
Although my acne is only 'moderate', it really does get me down and I find it really affects my confidence, so I really want to sort it out.
I looked up the site you recommended and the products certainly do look very good. One problem would be that I am currently based in England, and they do not appear to ship over here (though I might well be able to figure something out on that front). But my other problem is that none of the topical treatments I've been prescribed over the years, many being strong forms of benzoyl peroxide (the main ingredient of these products) has ever made a blind bit of difference, so I'm sceptical about a 'commercial' product having a good effect, though I know, and am very happy, that it is working for you. Had you tried prescribed topical treatments before yourself? Also, obviously, the Proactiv only works on your face, not on your back or whatever, and presumably, if you stop using them, the acne comes back? Sorry about the long monologue, I'm just really thinking 'out loud'...
I've slightly reduced the Accutane dosage while I try to come to a final decision on this. It seems to have slightly reduced the pain, but I can't quite tell yet. The face is however still completely swollen and bright red. I look like an inflated tomato!!
