Thursday Plantation : Tea Tree Soap

I have been a reader of acne.org for years - I am a 27 year old woman and suffer from severe cystic acne on my back and shoulders and mild (but very inflamed) acne on my face. I have tried many medicated washes, prescription topical creams, pills, birth control and many other things to get my acne under control. The best success I've had in the past is with the BCP Diane, which I was on for 8 months and it completely cleared my back, but not my face. That was 5 years ago. Gradually, my back acne returned, and with a vengeance this past year. In March, I had full-blown bacne again, and for my sister's wedding, had airbrush makeup to hide the very inflamed blemishes in a backless bridesmaid gown (I know... everyone's worst nightmare). What a disaster! My back hadn't been that bad since high school - several inflamed cysts, bleeding on my shirts, the works. I had pretty much given up and on a whim, purchased this soap, not expecting any result but hoping for some kind of relief. I have been using it diligently every morning for 3 weeks, and my acne is COMPLETELY UNDER CONTROL, on both my face and back. This has *NEVER* happened to me before. I use a washcloth - a towel one - in the shower, lather it with this soap, and it's a gentle but consistent form of exfoliation every morning plus the effects of the tea tree. I am so blown away by the effect this has had. I wish this was the method I had used years ago, because I have such terrible scarring. I think the consistent gentle exfoliation is key - no brush, no loofah. Try a washcloth / facecloth. Things I have also done in this 3 week time frame is drinking green smoothies every morning... but I don't think that is the gamechanger because I am lactose intolerant, have eaten plenty of dairy in the past bit and bad food, and have no new pimples when I normally do a couple days after eating dairy. I have felt some pimples attempt to form on my cheekbones but they have stayed almost completely flat and haven't blown up to become full pimples. It's definitely worth a shot! Be consistent and give it a month... it's drying after a while, but I use the Neutrogena combination skin moisturizer and a water-based sunscreen a few times a week. I know I should every day but I am scared to lose the effects of this soap! I also stopped the birth control pill recently and am hoping this keeps any hormone-triggered acne at bay. So far, so good. I wish I had some pictures to show you guys but I honestly didn't think it would work!