Hi I'm new here but I'd like some advice. I've suffered from acne for over ten years on and off. My acne is mainly closed comedones and cystic lumps. When I was a teenager the pill cleared me up but I came off it and my skin has deteriorated again from there. Three years ago I started acne treatment and ten months ago I was told to swap to differin and clarithromycin.

Differin has helped with the closed comedones but I'm still struggling with some cystic acne especially around my time of the month which become painful and won't go away.

I've just changed to a new doctors as I've moved house and he's just told me he doesn't like giving antibiotics as I'm young so I'm no longer allowed them and that I should just accept the way my skin is as I'll always have this problem. He won't give me the pill as he doesn't want to mess with my hormones so I'm back just using adapelene. He then told me I'll never be perfect (I don't want to be I just want to feel normal). Acne is really affecting my mental health and to feel dismissed has made me feel helpless. It feels like he thinks because I'm female I'm aiming to look like a super model when I don't I just want to not worry about my skin.

Sorry for the long post but I'd appreciate some advice