Grover's Disease: What works to help find relief?

Posted by 43219876x @43219876x, Sep 23, 2016

I have been diagnosed with Grover's disease under my breasts. I had a biopsy for diagnosis. Tried topical ointment with no really good results. Any ideas?

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@gardeningjunkie

There are dozens of types of eczema and as I mentioned I have 3, Grover's is just one type. You may also have multiple forms. This confuses doctors as they often keep treating symptoms as they should for your originally diagnosed form. My ACD was absolutely the most miserable form I had (I still have as it is for life but am symptom free) and it was the first type I developed. My first symptom was hand eczema. Mainly because I turned out to be allergic to my dish soap (preservatives), protective gloves which had an element of rubber in them, MBT also I garden and used hoses with rubber and held them without protection. Now I use vinyl hoses or wear vinyl gloves if touching a rubber hose. I was also allergic to all my topical moisturizers, except plain old Vaseline. Even my linens if not 100% cotton. I am even allergic to 3 of the 5 classes of steroids. With each allergic contact your reaction time is less and the symptoms more severe. This test saved my life!!! I was ready to end it all because the 24/7 pain and itching escalated and became unbearable. Sleep was impossible. It progressed to where I became allergic to more and more elements, yes some of the allergic elements are natural. Yes rashes can spring up everywhere or you may have no rash symptoms to show but it internalizes and for me it felt like my nerves inside my skin were inflamed. I would get taser like stinging and burning randomly anywhere. Itching and stinging always worse at night as our histamines are elevated in the evening. ACD is probably the second most common form, after Atopic.
Like you I never had a skin allergy till middle age. Not even acne. For me it was around my menopause time at age 50. It's most common to get ACD later in life as our body looses it's ability to tolerate what it believes to be a poison. Your body is raising your histamine warriors trying to kill off what it considers poison, a common ACD allergy for those in the medical profession is latex. Working with many latex products for decades the nurses and doctors have been absorbing the latex though their skin. It goes into the blood stream and finally the body says "no more", raising histamines to try to purge it. Thus rashes, inflammation and itching. Your rash doesn't even have to be at the contact site because the element that is off gassing and transferring through your skin and has entered your bloodstream can manifest a histamine reaction anywhere. Perhaps this is why you develop rashes in random places. A common area of sensitivity is the inner elbow. Most derms recommend trying a new topical in the inner elbow for 2 weeks before putting else where on your body. Often this site will react the soonest to allergies.
Even if you test negative to anything, the test will give you direction. You will know to keep searching for the correct type of eczema If you are allergic and have ACD you can eliminate contacts and be ACD free like me because now you will have names of your tormentors.
Have you gone to the New Zealand Dermatology site and searched all the forms of eczema? You can view photos of each type and perhaps you will see a rash that looks like yours and that can help identify your type.

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Thank you for the reply. I will be getting the test and researching until i find relief. I will continue to follow up. I appreciate the support and information immensely!

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@gardeningjunkie

There are dozens of types of eczema and as I mentioned I have 3, Grover's is just one type. You may also have multiple forms. This confuses doctors as they often keep treating symptoms as they should for your originally diagnosed form. My ACD was absolutely the most miserable form I had (I still have as it is for life but am symptom free) and it was the first type I developed. My first symptom was hand eczema. Mainly because I turned out to be allergic to my dish soap (preservatives), protective gloves which had an element of rubber in them, MBT also I garden and used hoses with rubber and held them without protection. Now I use vinyl hoses or wear vinyl gloves if touching a rubber hose. I was also allergic to all my topical moisturizers, except plain old Vaseline. Even my linens if not 100% cotton. I am even allergic to 3 of the 5 classes of steroids. With each allergic contact your reaction time is less and the symptoms more severe. This test saved my life!!! I was ready to end it all because the 24/7 pain and itching escalated and became unbearable. Sleep was impossible. It progressed to where I became allergic to more and more elements, yes some of the allergic elements are natural. Yes rashes can spring up everywhere or you may have no rash symptoms to show but it internalizes and for me it felt like my nerves inside my skin were inflamed. I would get taser like stinging and burning randomly anywhere. Itching and stinging always worse at night as our histamines are elevated in the evening. ACD is probably the second most common form, after Atopic.
Like you I never had a skin allergy till middle age. Not even acne. For me it was around my menopause time at age 50. It's most common to get ACD later in life as our body looses it's ability to tolerate what it believes to be a poison. Your body is raising your histamine warriors trying to kill off what it considers poison, a common ACD allergy for those in the medical profession is latex. Working with many latex products for decades the nurses and doctors have been absorbing the latex though their skin. It goes into the blood stream and finally the body says "no more", raising histamines to try to purge it. Thus rashes, inflammation and itching. Your rash doesn't even have to be at the contact site because the element that is off gassing and transferring through your skin and has entered your bloodstream can manifest a histamine reaction anywhere. Perhaps this is why you develop rashes in random places. A common area of sensitivity is the inner elbow. Most derms recommend trying a new topical in the inner elbow for 2 weeks before putting else where on your body. Often this site will react the soonest to allergies.
Even if you test negative to anything, the test will give you direction. You will know to keep searching for the correct type of eczema If you are allergic and have ACD you can eliminate contacts and be ACD free like me because now you will have names of your tormentors.
Have you gone to the New Zealand Dermatology site and searched all the forms of eczema? You can view photos of each type and perhaps you will see a rash that looks like yours and that can help identify your type.

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After looking further into the age thing, I found that it is quite common for women in menopause to have chronic hives! I am asking my doctor to look further in to this. If it is autoimmune in nature, then there are no triggers like food that I can avoid. It will be up to an immunologist to help me figure out treatment. I guess it's just my luck to have two skin conditions at once.

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Cilantro doesn't seem to be helping my hubs. But, I'm putting about 1/2 a bunch in and making 2 batches. Maybe he needs more cilantro. Frozen was SO much easier! I even dreamt about telling people to freeze the cilantro! 🙂 Anyone know if it's just as effective if it's frozen? Thanks!

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@ptownmama

Cilantro doesn't seem to be helping my hubs. But, I'm putting about 1/2 a bunch in and making 2 batches. Maybe he needs more cilantro. Frozen was SO much easier! I even dreamt about telling people to freeze the cilantro! 🙂 Anyone know if it's just as effective if it's frozen? Thanks!

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I freeze mine it works so much easier in the blender. I think you’re not giving him enough. He needs at least a half bunch in the beginning and then maybe cut back. I personally am using a whole bunch every day. And it took me just about a month to see the effects, and continued to get better and better in the following months.

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wow! okay. I'll increase the dose... thanks so much!

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Around day 15 or so i think with the smoothies. Upped it to 3/4 bunch to see if the red spots would go away - only have a couple of raised ones, no new ones. Itching is reduced for sure but not gone. Seeing if more gives me any benefit. Going away for the weekend so no smoothies. Guess i will go with supplements - How many are people taking if they have to skip the smoothie? One pill seems way light given how much cilantro is in each smoothie

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@seth971

Around day 15 or so i think with the smoothies. Upped it to 3/4 bunch to see if the red spots would go away - only have a couple of raised ones, no new ones. Itching is reduced for sure but not gone. Seeing if more gives me any benefit. Going away for the weekend so no smoothies. Guess i will go with supplements - How many are people taking if they have to skip the smoothie? One pill seems way light given how much cilantro is in each smoothie

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I have overdone it this week doing my spring clean up. The bumps that had receded are larger and more numerous on lower back torso. I need to be realistic and understand just consuming the cilantro won't overcome ignoring GD triggers.

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@seth971

Around day 15 or so i think with the smoothies. Upped it to 3/4 bunch to see if the red spots would go away - only have a couple of raised ones, no new ones. Itching is reduced for sure but not gone. Seeing if more gives me any benefit. Going away for the weekend so no smoothies. Guess i will go with supplements - How many are people taking if they have to skip the smoothie? One pill seems way light given how much cilantro is in each smoothie

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Bunches vary in size, even at the same store. I make sure I have at least 3 loose cups of stems and leaves. It tastes just as strong with 2 cups as it does with 3 or more so why not up the amount until you get results?
I haven't skipped a dose of fresh in the morning for over 2 1/2 months. I also take 1 supplement pill of cilantro for lunch and dinner. I have read that Chlorella, Broken Cell Wall Algae, helps GD too and take about 4-6 pills a day of the NOW brand. I had a trip with access to refrigeration once I arrived so I packed my cilantro and NutriBullet. I also had access to grocery stores so could have bought it once at my destination if needed.
Even after drinking it all this time the skin still has the healed red spots, not scabs, which have never faded on the back lower torso, but have healed and faded elsewhere in front and back torso. As mentioned I have been pushing it in the heat and now am getting a few more bumps so I need to back off the garden chores once the day warms up. Cilantro is not a cure and we still need to manage our lifestyle.

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@seth971

Around day 15 or so i think with the smoothies. Upped it to 3/4 bunch to see if the red spots would go away - only have a couple of raised ones, no new ones. Itching is reduced for sure but not gone. Seeing if more gives me any benefit. Going away for the weekend so no smoothies. Guess i will go with supplements - How many are people taking if they have to skip the smoothie? One pill seems way light given how much cilantro is in each smoothie

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When not on fresh I was taking 3 pills a day. that was the dosage indicated on the bottle.

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I have had Grover's Disease for over 4 years praying it would go away. I treated it with steroids for years and tried to make sure I was wearing the correct fabrics and doing all the things my dermatologist suggested. I have Hashimoto's and have also had multiple autoimmune issues x 30 years. About 2 years ago I started looking at my diet. I cut out gluten 2 years ago, and my skin slightly improved. 1 year ago I cut out dairy and eggs. My skin stayed the same. My husband and I started hearing about and researching the carnivore diet. 30 days ago I started in on just meat, salt and water. I started it as an elimination diet to see what triggered my autoimmune symptoms. After 14 days I added back in minimal dairy including hard cheese, heavy whipping cream in my coffee and butter. My skin is 90% clear. If you're reading this, please research plant oxalates and plant anti-nutrients and what it does to your gut health. If anything, use the carnivore diet as an elimination diet short term, to see what foods are triggering your symptoms. I truly believe that diet is the answer to cure this.
If going this route, please research the diet thoroughly before you start. There are tricks to doing this safely and correctly, and taking this route requires knowledge to keeping your body safe, while you adjust to a sudden change. Again research: carnivore diet, oxalates, oxalate dumping, lectins, plant antinutrients and Sally K. Norton who is leading the research on this. I believe there are good plants to eat, I just don't believe all of them are safe for you.
I know if you are suffering from this disease, you're willing to try anything to live normal again. I spent multiple hours on chat boards trying to find answers. This is the first time I've felt hopeful that this will go away and I can go to sleep at night without my skin feeling like it's on fire. Good luck to everyone posting on here. I pray you find answers and your own path to a cure.

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