Okay, Michelle. Here's my update for Day 11.

Since I rarely flush and my symptoms are overwhelmingly concentrated on the
nose - large pores, massive sebum production and keratin plugging, which
Geoffrey described as "a perfect environment for demodex" - I'm trying the
maximum dosage for severe infestations. That's 14 consecutive daily doses of
12 mg or, in my case, 1.2 ml of 1% injectable solution taken orally.

After 11 doses, still no problems: no digestive upsets, flaring, redness or
inflammation. No itching until yesterday, when I had 5 minutes of sharp
itching, then just an occasional slight prickle. The production of sebum or
keratin has been cut by perhaps 90%. The pores are mostly clear, the base
colour is paler and the skin is amazingly calm, although there have been a
few papules.

Having said that, I suspect a similar reaction to Beth (on the once a week
dosage), who posted that the sebum on her nose was "sloughing off". I
suppose that describes what is happening with me, where the worst portion of
skin seems to be undergoing an almost constant turnover of cells.

It's hard to explain, but although my problem area extends across to include
both inner cheeks, the worst area for acne and now pustular rosacea has
always been the central strip of skin from the middle of my nose down to the
tip. Now, the often-puffy inner cheeks are completely flat and the nasal
swelling has significantly reduced, but the most dramatic change has been to
that central strip of worst skin. It has been constantly peeling for at
least a week, yet the skin underneath is never raw, never sore. It's a big
improvement, but it must be admitted that the new skin still bears the same
old marks.

I think it's astonishing that a systemic drug working through the whole of
the body could cause so much change to just a single inch of skin. I guess
that shows it was mites. (Thanks, Geoffrey, for the advice.) I'll let the
group know if anything significant occurs, but otherwise, assume progress!

Kind regards,

Aurelia