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

I take collagen, histidine, hyaluronic acid and silica to fortify my skin.

Dear Amanda- I appreciate you sharing information about GD, but the information you provided concurs with most the information provided about GD and although it was written in 2010 it is the same standard outdated information which isn't helpful for most. You suggestion that sweat and heat I agree with as it does seem to make it worse and the very least it does feel worse. but then again that only addresses the symptoms and not the underlying cause. I also wonder at the standard fact given that more men have it then women is confusing as the majority of bloggers on this site and others with GD are women, yet that could be because women will discuss it. I question if the research on which sex is more likely to have GD is outdated. Today's woman may spend just as many hours in the sun as men and there does seem to be a pattern of those with GD being "outside" people. The problem with it is that for those of us blogging on this site and other sites I read the treatments offered in this Mayo information offer no relief. They offer no ideas as to the cause, yes I do believe sun damage is part of it but new information has come about which may eliminate part of the cause and I will explain that later in this message.
In all my years of blogging only a handful report any relief from steroids, a treatment recommended. Personally, although they helped me with Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, symptoms, topical steroids provided no help with GD. Also I tried cortico-steroid injections which would help with my ACD but did nothing for GD relief or remission. I think doctors are trying to treat all eczema equal. They don't try to treat all types of cancer equally.
Some have talked about light therapy and I tried exposing my skin to brief periods of sunlight and the problem is when GD is active sunlight or heat of any kind hurts and I found heat from sunlight or heat from other sources made it worse, just as you mentioned.
I believe the Mayo site needs to be updated. It's a fact that for me and about 50% of us doing a heavy metal detox with fresh or frozen cilantro smoothies daily finally put our GD into remission. Please re-read the GD blog from Feb 2019, the Feb 27 post by kimass1 recommending cilantro changed my life. I wrote up my success with cilantro and that of others on this site and gave it to both of my dermatologists and neither seemed interested in the concept of a heavy metal detox, a natural chelation by drinking fresh or frozen cilantro daily for a few months. At the very least doctors should recommend this as I don't believe any harm can come from trying a natural chelation for a few months. Yes one can get their blood chelated to remove heavy metals with an IV putting in the drug or pill forms, but this home remedy does the same thing without the need of a hospital, lab or doctor.
Why do you think doctors are so reluctant to explore alternative ideas when the old school treatments they keep suggesting aren't giving any relief. .

Hi. I just registered to pass this idea along. I am a 68 year old male. I have had Grover's for a year (no change). I am sure I got it from to much time in the Steam room after a workout. My Dermatologist @ UCLA had never heard of this idea of mine, but I find that before exercise or hot weather ,etc. I don't break out (In fact I dry out) if I apply Zinc Oxide ( Diaper rash cream ) to the rash area. It acts as a kind of shield. Please check with your Doctor but this has worked for me. Best of luck.

I see that others know about the Zinc oxide treatment. It has helped me in sweaty situations.

Have you tried the heavy metal detox with cilantro? Knocked out my GD.

It seems interesting and odd to me that zinc oxide should work. That and the fact that others have mentioned a shingles vaccine connection is making me wonder about a possible viral component (zinc seems helpful against viruses)?

It is unknown and given the wide variety of anecdotal and isolated evidence, I’m not sure it is one thing. A dermatologist in NYC has had a lot of success treating patients with a DMSA as he believes it is related to heavy metal toxicity.

Others have reported remission via cilantro, diet (grain free, dairy free, gluten free, etc.), etc. Other literature shows successful treatment with triple antibiotic ointment, anti-fungals, Accutane and other retinoids, etc.

Is it bacterial, viral, fungal, environmental, diet, who knows? The only thing that seems to be consistent is that it is inconsistent — what works for some will not work for others and the perceived root cause for some does not appear to apply to all. Personally, I think it is a symptom rather than a cause.

However, there are some who have been dedicated to finding a systemic answer for themselves who have had success. They may be dismissed as those who simply had Grover’s “resolve” on its own but, regardless, it appears to be something that can be addressed, given one’s tenacity.

Thank you Amanda for the information you sent. I appreciate any and all information you share.

I was about to schedule a Shingles vaccine shot and thought about potential issues with GD. I found some reporting suggesting it would be best to wait until more is known. At 76, I don't want to deal with either. Is there any clarity on this question? Thank you.

No clarity that I’m aware of, but a significant number of us have a history of Shingrix vaccine, followed by shingles, followed by GD.