Hi, this is my first post. I first came to this site over six years ago. I didn't join because I was internet shy but I read alot and mercifully discovered benzoyl peroxide! I thought I had tried everything, nothing the doctor had given me had worked (Zineryt, Erythromycin, Tetracycline) and in desperation I'd even tried ridiculous diet and supplement regimens that I didn't believe would work but I had to do something... But benzoyl peroxide worked! Within days! My acne had been moderate/severe and it almost completely disappeared. I usually had a few spots but nothing like before and eventually the scars and red marks did fade.

About six months ago I went to my doctor about finding an alternative because I was sick of the bleaching side effect. I didn't feel like I could use it when I went to stay with other people and whenever I missed applications I broke out and I was fed up of ruining clothes whenever it rained etc. etc. I felt like I was too old for it... (I'm 25 now) My GP gave me azalaic acid/Skinoren and for a while it seemed to work but the past three months my skin has been terrible! The worst it has been since I was 19. Now he's given me Dianette but my skin continues to get worse! I feel hideous and constantly try to hide my face and I'm really upset that I will have so many scars and red marks again, they took years to fade last time. My doctor also gave me retin-a but I am too scared to use it after reading reviews on this site about long lasting initial breakouts of worse acne than had previously been experienced. I can't afford that right now and I don't think I should need to because I was fine before. So I tried benzoyl peroxide 2.5% again... I was expecting quick results like last time but my skin is getting worse and worse and my skin is very dry.

It strikes me that there is a huge amount of collective knowledge and experience on this site and I'm wondering if anyone has any insight into what could help me. Do I just need to be more patient? I am kind of hopeful that Dianette might work for me eventually because it worked wonders for my sister. Her acne was very severe and now almost disappeared. I have been wondering about accutane but I have a history of depression, do you think that would stop them prescribing it for me? And I suppose that would take time to work too... I am so upset is there anything more I can do other than wait for the Dianette to work? I feel like I should be using something topical as well but I don't know what to use - bp, skinoren or try the retin-a or something else? Is it common for bp not to work second time around, I think I read that somewhere Or maybe I need to give it more time or maybe it is because the Dianette is making me break out?

Sorry this is so long please help me!