Grover's Disease: What works to help find relief?
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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I have put spinach and kale in my smoothies for years (even before Grover’s). It is good for you and does not have any negative effects unless you happen to be allergic.
Also, I used zinc oxide (with menthol) and it helps. I dropped everything but cilantro and zinc oxide when I was dealing with Grover’s.
ZINC OXIDE BLOCKS UVA UVB INFARED
Example: I have a propane radiant heater (propane 40 pound contained with heater screwed on top.
7 feet away my bare skin feels the heat from INFARED radiation. No hot air, just the INFARED waves. Bad for us.
The SUN emits all three. A fire emits INFARED.
Therefore the ZINC OXIDE protects the GROVERS from all three.
Most sun screens people uise normally DO NOT block the heat.
See: https://www.warrentondermatology.com/blog/infrared-rays-what-your-sunscreen-may-be-missing.
More: Heat Stuff:
I'm buying an all cotton mattress.
Those "memory foams" are murder on us guys. My back temperature is is 95F as I sit here typing, and I can tell that it wants to itch. . The memory foam puts it up a lot.
The following will cool my back;
I am working on a sleeping invention for us guys. Going to use air mattress as mattress top.
Pin holes in the air mattress at my trunk area only will leak little jets air at room temperature. A tiny low pressure compressor will run the air through a tiny "radiator" to cool it. You can put on the AC cold air output. This is getting better as I write. I do my best invention designs, when I explain them to people. A plus is ..... You can take it when you travel and use it on top of hotel bed. Whoa! Freedom!
I Love doing this stuff. Been an engineer (software, computer circuits) as a consultant for 35 years. Now retired 8 years and have a workshop with Lathe, Brake, Band Saw, Welders: Gas, Stick, Mig, and others. Dozens of AIR tools, hand tools. It would take days to move my shop to another property. So I gotta stay here. Started early (12 years old - build a gocart with lawnmower motor. At 16 put a 331 Chrysler Hemi in a 50 Ford.
So if you folks want chat about things other than Grovers, that would be fun.
Are you using the sunblock recommended at the link you provided? If so, does it look white? Does it feel greasy?
Also, I've seen zinc oxide recommended in this thread before, I think, but I wasn't clear whether it was just for sun protection or if it helped GD even when used indoors.
I've been suffering continuously since spring of 2018, although the worst of it has slowly migrated from where it began (it's been working its way downward).
Admire your engineering skills. So little is offered to assist eczema and GD patients we will welcome aids to help our skin be more comfortable.
Memory Foam Danger- Good plan to get a mattress free of memory foam. Besides the heat which even a heavy mattress pad cannot block, my memory foam mattress is what triggered my explosion of symptoms with Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, which I had dealt with for a decade but didn't know about testing. My symptom's were mainly on my hands, face and scalp. They would come and go and steroids helped when symptomatic. Then I bought a memory foam mattress hoping it would help me sleep better. I didn't realize what a chemical and natural element stew memory foam is. Polyurethane foam is different.
Memory foam is compounded using different elements in rubber. One element Mercaptobenzothiazole, MBT, synthesizes the blending of materials. I tested highly allergic to it. After a month my entire body inside my skin became inflamed. Stinging, zapping, burning and itching. 24/7 and worse at night when our histamines are elevated. I naively didn't think about the mattress as the cause. Living like that for 3 months I was planning my suicide. Life was unbearable. Thank god I accidently learned about the 5 Day Extended Patch Test which my derms or family practice doctor had never ever told me about. If you contact the mattress company they cannot tell you which elements are added in synthesizing the form.
Even if you don't have ACD and have not been tested positive for memory foam, toss it out now! Off gassing, not just direct contact, can over time lead to an allergic allergy.
Tempurpedic has multiple lawsuits against them for allergies to their foam we never are warned about. In fairness mine was an off brand I bought at Sam's, yet clearly it poisoned me.
I want to follow and mention that at the time I bought the memory foam mattress I didn't have GD. I developed it about 6 months after I had the mattress. Immediately after patch testing I tried encasing it in a plastic barrier and getting a very heavy cotton pad, but then got rid of the mattress anyway out of caution.
You continue to astound me. Your wealth of knowledge is amazing. I cant imagine what you were in your past life/lives.
Past lives, well we always wonder. When I was 50 I wasn't even aware eczema existed. Pain is a serious motivator in our search of knowledge, that's why you and others are on this site. If I hadn't educated myself I am not sure I would be alive today or at the very least free of eczema symptoms at this moment. For each of us, even with the same type of eczema we have different profiles with different responses to treatments. Many never get it figured out. Some types are more challenging and take more sacrifice.
I would guess it I had a past life it would have been humbly working off the land. I find that wrap around peace and wonder which completes me like when I am creating life in the outdoors. When I worked in the corporate world I with hassled commutes and incased in metal, concrete and stress and never could find the time for enough sleep.
What about your past life? My husband is convinced he was a Samurai Warrior, seriously. Fun to think about.
Interesting, that I never thought in terms of my own past life. Only others. I'll need some time to sort that one out. I have had some extraordinary deja vue experiences, years ago, and I strongly believe there are "other" realities out there, we just don't really know how to access them. About 6 months ago, I started to meditate. I don't think of it as a cure for my GD, but it definitely calms my overactive brain and takes me away, briefly, from any of it's effects. I strongly advise it for that, and it's many other positive attributes. I used to collect Japanese wood block cuts and own a genuine 18th century Samurai sword. Somewhat obsessed with Japanese culture. About as different from our own, as possible. Always great to read your "stuff".
First time commenting here- I want to thank everyone who has shared their experiences with this frustrating condition. I felt so alone with this until I came across this forum and your words/advice have changed my life. Here’s my brief story- I first noticed breakouts about 15 years ago, they were transient and mild. They became less transient about 5 years ago and kicked into high gear, oddly, right after Shingrix vaccine. PCP said it was folliculitis, gave me antibiotics and anti-bacterial wash which did nothing.
Last year I finally told dermatologist who confirmed Grover’s. They say this is a rare disease but I think there are many like me who suffer in silence. After much experimentation and not wanting to take any meds I found that liberal and daily use of Calamine lotion was the only thing that somewhat stopped the itch(but not breakouts).
That was until I learned about cilantro from many of you! Finally, some hope! I’m on day 3 and have not had to use Calamine anymore. I still feel tingling in back and have a couple spots that are trying to materialize but the cilantro smoothies seem to be building efficacy. I am hoping I can report the success many of you have over the next month or so. I’m keeping my blend simple for now: 2 c frozen fresh cilantro, 3/4 c almond milk, 1/2 c frozen blueberries and a bit of banana. I am so grateful that I found this discussion.... thank you all!
This place is a life saver. Keep coming back !!!