Actrapid is a slower and longer acting insulin than Novorapid, I was on it before moving to Novorapid and it was OK but not fast enough to deal with the digestion of carbs in the diet, but if you eat a very low-carb diet Megan the profile of Actrapid might suit you better, but if don't then overall Novo is the better of the two IMHO.
As for your site reactions, ask to change to another basal, there was a new insulin that came out last year called Tresiba which might be worth a try, failing that one of the older insulins such as Insulatard might have less of a reaction.