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

Hello, I’m new here and was recently diagnosed with grovers through a FaceTime appointment with a dermatologist due to covid-19. I’m a healthy, pregnant, 32 year old female with very fair, generally clear skin. I was staining my porch on three hot days we’ve had recently (I live in NC) and this rash just came from out of no where. It definitely sounds like grovers to me just from my own research, but the dr gave me Triamcinolone and told me it should go away in two weeks. It’s been about a week and it seems to be getting worse. The worst of it is on my stomach but it is all over me (legs, arms, back, chest). I feel hideous and the more research I do, the more it seems like this is not something that is just going to go away. I just need some help and encouragement 😔

@catlover32 If it is Grovers, your best bet would be to start at the beginning of this thread and read thorough all the posts. There is a wealth of information and things we have done to get relief. I am a cilantro smoothie advocate, as well as all cotton next to the skin. Diet also helps because of inflammatory foods. Good luck.

I will thank you!

I agree with other who suggests looking at info here. The dermatologists give no hope for a cure and usually Rx cortisone which has side effects. For immediate help with itching the OTC Witch Hazel w/14% alcohol has helped me. Apply generously with hands 2x daily.

This is a terrible time to get a new diagnosis, both because of COVID-19 and because you are pregnant. Sorry for your suffering. We are all very sympathetic. It is rare for Grover's to affect arms and legs - it is usually, but not always, limited to trunk. It's not possible at this time to get more diagnostic work done, but it might be helpful to pay attention to posts of people with other forms of atopic dermatoses, sometimes referred to as AD. Grover's, otherwise known as transient acantholytic dermatosis, usually lasts 6-12 months in people for whom it is truly "transient." There are people in this group who have had it for a couple of months to several years. There are also forms of AD that affect people only in pregnancy. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763729/. The advice you get from the many previous posts hopefully will help. People generously share what worked for them and what didn't, because doctors have little to offer. For any advice you take you'll have to be careful to research safety in pregnancy.

Thank you! I’ve never thought about it being tied to pregnancy!

Is this similar to what everyone’s else’s look like? This is day 6 with Triamcinolone

Triamcinolone is a corticosteroid topical cream to relieve itching.(Check with your GP re continued use). If you have biopsy confirmed GD, you need to speak to a Dermatologist who has some understanding about GD. (Few do in Brisbane, Aust.) Do you have consistent itching?, as this is the worst part, in my case, of suffering from GD. Chin up.

I have not had a biopsy due to covid-19 and was diagnosed over a FaceTime appt. It does itch but nothing like hives do where I want to peel my skin off! The dermatologist said to use the cream for two weeks and then to call back if it doesn’t improve… I think I’m going to call tomorrow and demand a biopsy even though I’ve only been using the cream for about a week. Maybe they can just take it while I’m in my car-I don’t care! The worst part for me is aesthetics which I know is ridiculous but I already have very fair skin so it stands out like a sore thumb. It’s about to be summer time and I live at the beach. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Sure looks like GD. Go to detmnetnz.org.
They have a mass of representative photos. Study about GD. Steroids do little good for us, other types of eczema can get temporary relief from eczema with steroids. Read this blog starting in Feb. We have found a few treatments that help some of us. You’re lucky if your itching and pain are minimal. Forget taking off your shirt in public until you go into remission.My first outbreak lasted a full year. Your biopsy is only valid if taken during the right stage of your breakout. My biopsy was negative but I
clearly have GD and been coping for 4 years now. It comes and goes with normally 6 months on and 6 months off but because of the cilantro treatment and changing diet- zero processed sugar
Limited natural and reduced gluten have been clear for longer than 6 months now.
You will need to accept that this is a chronic condition and study and blog as
doctors can do nothing. I’ve heard Facebook has a very active site. Yet this site I am grateful for because I learned about the cilantro treatment which works from of us.