Hi again all. The mountain air has finally been successfully wrangled (morning wash with LRP Demo-Cleanser followed by atopalm (sunscreen if I'll be outside the cublicle) and night oil-cleanse followed by atopalm). The redness is gone and I'm have FAR less reaction breakouts. However, I have a new issue: what I believe to be hormonal breakouts.

My doctor recently switched my birth control pills to a much lower estrogen variety since I'm now over 30 and combined with my allergy meds she wanted to minimize my blood pressure risk. Since the switch I've noticed that just before my period (the first day or so off the active pills) I get some of those awful, under the skin, painful zits in the area from just below the sides of my nose down around my mouth. They respond passably well to the oil cleanse -- it gets them to the surface and minimizes the size of the nodule/cyst, and then helps dry that pretty decently. However, they DO still form nodules/cysts and I've got several of the lovely red macules lefts behind from them.

I would LOVE to be able to anticipate these flares and head them off before they even form beneath the skin. I know sulfur masks are good for our skin type, but they seem more designed to draw after the acne forms than to prevent -- true or am I misreading? I'm wondering if they are my best bet, or if I should try a VERY gentle (possibly even diluted) beta treatment (back in my high humidity days I used the Paula's Choice 1% with some success). Or even talk to my doctor about something prescription (I do have decent insurance now, so anything that comes generic I can probably get fairly cheap).

I'd also LOVE to be able to fade those darned red marks that are left behind more quickly. However, living in the dry has turned from borderline to true DSNW and I live in fear of anything causing a reaction or messing with my lipid barrier.

Suggestions?