Thanks for the support Guy, Des, Anna.
After a week of getting used to my new visage I'm starting to feel more positive.
Went to the GP who could only suggest using emovate on the face, and if that don't work refer me back to the hospital.
In the meantime I've been moisturising heavily like Des suggests, drinking aloe vera, taking evening primrose, stopped the booze, went to a chinese medicine specialist for a consultation. Got 2 sets of herb pills to take. 48 a day! Cutting down on dairy products and no curries.
Of course this hasn't stop the P from spreading, but hey what the hell - it makes me feel like I'm doing something positive.
Next step is to stop the cigs and learn to relax - stress management I think they call it now - which sounds stressful to me.
