I have used Proactiv for about a year and really like it. I still do get an occasional blemish, but they are more the type near the surface of the skin that only stay for a day or two, as opposed to the type that can wreck your whole week. The only downside I found to Proactiv was that it turned my khaki Tommy Hilfiger pillowsheets orange from some ingredient contained in the face scrub. It does have a fine-print warning on the box that it may bleach some fabrics, but it was still a bummer. I purchase most of my Proactiv products on ebay. They are much cheaper there than buying them directly from Proactiv. Obviously, prices vary on ebay, but I usually pay about eight dollars, plus shipping, for an individual bottle and around 35-40 dollars for the three-piece kit, which includes the mask.

Read the thread titled: "49 guess its the beginning......." We discuss all the good stuff. Unfortunately, it's "normal". I had it pretty bad for about 2 years--now, it's pretty much gone, but, I swear, I think it still happens once a month. I wouldn't take soy. Increasing estrogen will either put off the symptoms until later, or, at worst, be dangerous. HRT, whether natural or not, is still HRT. Asians don't ingest nearly the amount and kinds of soy (concentrated pills, isolated, etc) that we Americans have begun to. IMHO, you should wait it out. Use a mild cleanser with a good Ph. No moisturizer (I don't wear make-up--except for lipstick--never have, never will), no make-up on your skin. Sunblock only when you need it.

I have had horrible outbreaks of them in the past and this year have had some - I usually find them when I take bulbs out in the spring and see the little buggers in the bulb scales. I use classic pesticides as a drench as they can attack the roots as well and have killed some of my plants in the past. They can be a real hassle to get rid of completely. Hope your method has worked to get rid of all of them :o) Dan

Welcome to Virginia! I think I have some good news and bad news to offer you with respect to your remedies. First, the bad news: While Virginia has a statutory warranty for new construction, there is none for remodeling projects, so you don't have that as a remedy. Now the (maybe) good news: mechanic's lien law in VA is very complicated. It's not difficult to record a lien, but they are often tossed out unless every "i" has been correctly dotted and every "t" correctly crossed. There is a 30-day rule that requires contractors and suppliers to register with the applicable mechanic's lien agent within 30 days of beginning work in order to preserve their right to file a lien for that work. If you don't have a mechanic's lien agent, then I'm not sure the contractor or any supplier or contractor working for him has any remedy under the Virginia mechanic's lien law. I'm not suggesting you "lawyer up,"nor do I advocate going to court as a remedy, but paying for a 1 hour consultation with a Virginia attorney with a construction law practice would help you understand your rights and those of the contractor. Then you can make an informed decision about how to proceed. Best wishes for getting things fixed soon and enjoying your home.