Fluoroderma isn't a condition you hear about everyday --most people still think fluoride helps keep the cavities away. Few of us suspect it could be clogging up our lymphatic system, leading to pesky skin conditions like cystic acne and cellulite. Some CI readers suspect they may have fluoroderma, too, so I am posting a few pictures to show my experience.The pictures where I am wearing the pink shirt were taken about a year ago, soon after I moved to a fluoridated town in South Florida. You can see how the acne traces the path of the lymph vessels down the sides of my mouth and neck.
I took the pictures with the blue shirt a few days ago. I made a concentrated effort to avoid fluoride over the past several months and you can see the difference on my face. My neck is completely healed and most of the red marks that remain on my chin are called Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). They should fade in 3 to 12 months.
Here is another angle of the fluoroderma. It pains me to post these pictures on the Internet(!) but hopefully it helps someone out there who might be dealing with this embarrassing problem.
My skincare routine hasn't changed at all in the last year. I wash my face once a day, before I go to bed, using California Baby's Super Sensitive Shampoo and Bodywash. Sometimes I use a homemade toner made from diluted Apple Cider Vinegar or Proactiv's sulfur mask as a spot treatment. [Read here to know why I had to stop using Proactiv's other products even though they worked on my acne].
I know the pictures aren't the best. I took them using the built-in webcam on my Mac. But I hope they give you a better idea of what fluoroderma looks like and the healing that is possible, even without medication.
Most dermatologists, including the ones who developed Proactiv, are often quoted as saying that there's no cure for acne. I don't think this is true. Every effect has a cause. Saying that acne is caused by overactive oil glands is like saying that being drunk is caused by too much alcohol in the blood system. It is, but that answer isn't satisfying. What caused the excess? In the case of being drunk, it was one too many martinis. In the case of my acne, it was ingesting toxic levels of fluoride over the years. Now, every time I consume fluoride, my lymphatic system goes into overdrive trying to flush it out of my body. I can truly say I am thankful for my acne because I realize it is a protective mechanism.
If you can determine the true cause of your acne and eliminate it from your system, your body will heal itself. It's a slow process, but it's worth doing the right way.
This post is a part of Prevention not Prescription Tuesday hosted at The Kathleen Show, Works For Me Wednesday hosted at We Are THAT Family, and Fight Back Friday hosted at FoodRenegade.
Related posts:
The Mind-Body Connection in Action @CelluliteInvestigation
What's Hiding in Your Homemade Chicken Stock? @CelluliteInvestigation
Nutritional Support for Eczema @OrganicandThrifty
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by Dr. Lionel Bissoon. 
My husband has gone through a similar journey. He has had this condition since they moved into a new house when he was 13. His face started breaking out and since he was 13 his parents assumed it was just teenage acne. He still had this condition at 39 years old and was so frustrated! He had tried every acne treatment he could find, over the counter, prescription, holistic, etc. Last year, we went to a detox spa retreat. We fasted and cleansed for 10 days, and had extensive blood testing done. The blood testing was very interesting! He was diagnosed with fluoroderma. We were sent home with a strict warning against all flouride, and milk thistle tea and capsules. My husband has been faithful over the last year by staying away from flouride, taking the milk thistle, jumping on a mini-trampoline to stimulate the lympathic system, dry skin brishing, and cleansing with mild Castile soap only. His skin is completely 100% clear now. It took a good 6-8 months. Hallelujah!
Wow! You don't know how exciting this is for me! I've never met anyone else with this condition, and only know about it through what I've read on the Internet. I hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions (you can email me at analyst(at) celluliteinvestigation (dot) com if you don't want to post this all on the blog.
Does he have problems with any particular food? My worst outbreaks were after eating real chicken stock (made from chicken bones). I also had a bad reaction to an organic grass-fed beef hot dog.
Did they diagnose the fluoroderma through traces of fluoride in his blood samples?
Do you still live in a house with fluoridated water? Has he noticed any problems with showering in fluoridated water? Have you found an effective way to filter the water for drinking or cooking with?
I'm sure I've already overwhelmed you, so I will stop there. Thanks so much for your comment. It is wonderful to hear that his skin cleared completely!
You may want to stop using soap products that have detergents in them such as sulfates. I would recommend the Aubrey Organics line for affordable and really organic facial care, shampoo, soaps and lotions. If you want to try something a little more pampering I would suggest The Vital Image line of products, they are only sold on line. California Baby's isn't as great for the skin. The striping nature of detergents makes it easier for your skin to absorb unwanted things, such as fluoride. Using real soap should help your skin build a natural oil barrier that protects skin, with out feeling like nasty. I had really bad acne that looked close to what you are experiencing, however mine was and allergy to petroleum products.
Thanks, Rosy! I was focusing on avoiding fluoride, but I never thought about whether or not a product might make my skin more susceptible to fluoride. I know my online retailer of choice (Vitacost) sells the Aubrey Organics line, but I might try the Vital Image one first. My face could use some pampering.
But until I order that, Missmessy mentioned mild castile soap. I have the Dr. Bronner's organic pure castile liquid soap, which I've been diluting and using in our hand soap dispensers. Any idea how that would be as a face soap? Thanks!
I use Br. Bronner's bar soaps as a body soap. The liquid is good for everything, but hair. Don't use it on your hair. If you look online for recipes for at home facial care you will find that Dr, Bronner's would work well as the base for a lot of these. You could try a tea(find an herb that works for your skin, or just Chamomile,) honey, Dr. Bronner's cocktail to pamper your complexion, however they should be kept in the fridge and don't use after a week.
Sweet -I'm going to try it tonight. I love anything with honey. I use straight raw honey as a lip balm before I go to bed. My lips have never been more smackable.
Thanks for courageously posting your pictures. I have the same condition. The same acne started appearing on my neck a few years ago. I would get flare-ups and then they would go away. I am battling it again on my face and neck. You have given me hope. I am going to do all I can to avoid fluoride. Bless you and keep up the good work.
Thanks so much for your kind comment. Your encouraging words are very much appreciated. I am surprised how many people I've connected with already who have fluoroderma. Everything I've read about it says it's a rare condition, but I think that's only because it is so difficult to diagnose (which is because it is so difficult to avoid fluoride these days in order to make the diagnosis). I saw many doctors over the years about my acne, and none of them ever suggested it was from the fluoride.
Yes, keep up hope! Acne is certainly curable. All you have to do is figure out what is causing it. Once you eliminate the cause, your body will heal itself. Maybe it's fluoride, or maybe it's iodine or bromine. Maybe gluten or petroleum products. This website helped me to determine the source of my fluoride outbreaks.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/f-sources.htm
Best of luck in your journey to healing!