I appear to have developed something called nodulocystic acne. It's all over my face and is affecting my back and chest. Apparently it's a hormonal thing. I've never suffered from acne before.

It's very sore and painful. I'm about to take a painkiller for it as i woke up with two more painful bumps. I starte getting it about 3 months ago and it's got worse and worse to the point it looks/feels awful.

I'm also getting all these weird strands of crinkled hair.

I'm sick of this. The PCS, the chronic urticaria, the acid reflux, now the acne. I know some of it's stress but I can't really see a time when I will get to not be stressed because I'm homeless for a start.

I'm supposed to see my GP in two weeks so he can see how I'm doing on the acid reflux medicine, which is helping at least. I should wait till then or they'll think I'm a complete and utter hyperchondriac but it's so painful and I'm worried it's all going to scar.

I may have managed to avoid depression but I think my body is dealing with this in other ways. Incidentally I think it's all starting to make me feel very depressed. I feel like a complete waste of space at the moment. Seeing the neurologist this week just brought home how much of a number, a figure I am and nothing else. To anybody. Pulling in favours from people I barely know just to have somewhere to stay warm.

There has to come a point where enough is enough.

Morning, Andromeda,
It's sad to know that you're having to deal with all these rather acute crises, when you already are trying to cope with PCS.
I'm going downstairs to make a pot of tea now, and will come back shortly.
I know the feeling of it all simply being "too much" already.
The greatest stressor of not "having one's nest" (or the prospect of losing it) from which to base one's healing, is something that is still very 'tender' for me to recall, of my own experience.

Sincerely,
Theta

Andromeda, sorry to hear about your situation.
I got painful acne from taking Tramadol (muscle relaxer for my neck) earlier this year. I have luckily never had acne growing up and got pretty depressed until I put the two together.
I thought it was hormonal too, but the Tramadol made me very depressed as well so I guess in a way it was. Thankfully it cleared up but I had never had that side effect before from any med.

Could it be a medication you are taking?

When I started getting the acne I wasn't doing anything different. It came seemingly out of nowhere.

Bleurgh, feel awful today. Raging headache and having trouble reading anything. Back to sleep I think.

Just googled what you've got - oh dear

Dear me, don't Google it. You'll have nightmares for weeks.

It's not nearly as bad as the pictures on Google.

I am so glad to hear that news of you, andromeda.
I was about to say, "If you've got anything going on like the photos ... go for the Rx iso-whatever a.s.a.p."..

Going back to bed sounds like a fine idea when you're feeling crummy. I took a 'rainy day' indoors myself yesterday ... tho' we didn't actually get the rain that was forecast!

Take good care, andromeda. Hope you get some good rest.

P.S. I'm still awaiting hearing back longdistance from my dermatologist friend who is not-all-allopathic-medicine in approach to women's skincare problems.

have you ever tried aromatherapy?there are a lot of natural ways to balunce your hormones and with the acne as well hope this help s I do have some recipes if you would like

Thank you... I've tried using products with essential oils but unfortunately my skin doesn't agree with it.

Try googling goats milk and eczema - there have been surprising results from purely drinking it to body lotion based on it.