1. < Skin Health

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Skin Health Support Group.

help4meandu | @help4meandu | Mar 30, 2021
In reply to @dkdarcik "For me, stress has been inconsistent as a GD trigger. Initially thought that was causing it..." + (show)
@dkdarcik

For me, stress has been inconsistent as a GD trigger. Initially thought that was causing it but after years with it, it doesn’t seem as related as heat, and sugar. I can almost predict an outbreak if I have sugar. I am now using monkfruit sugar and I that doesn’t bother my GD. I have been drinking cilantro smoothies daily for nearly 2 months- I change up the ingredients to keep it interesting. It’s definitely helping!

Jump to this post

Thanks for sharing. I agree about heat being significant factor. Maybe that’s why it’s worse at night under covers when our body temp rises. Also summer is worse. Whoever mentioned using Selsun blue medicated shampoo thank you. I’ve been using as supplement to my body wash for past couple weeks as well as on scalp and seems to be helping.
I do consume too much sugar so need to cut back.

REPLY
2 replies
gardeningjunkie | @gardeningjunkie | Mar 30, 2021
In reply to @help4meandu "Thanks for sharing. I agree about heat being significant factor. Maybe that’s why it’s worse at..." + (show)
@help4meandu

Thanks for sharing. I agree about heat being significant factor. Maybe that’s why it’s worse at night under covers when our body temp rises. Also summer is worse. Whoever mentioned using Selsun blue medicated shampoo thank you. I’ve been using as supplement to my body wash for past couple weeks as well as on scalp and seems to be helping.
I do consume too much sugar so need to cut back.

Jump to this post

Our histamine levels are higher in the evening so our itching and inflammation is higher.
I have given up processed sugar for life. Try a 2-3 month detox of all processed sugar as a test. If you notice no difference then sugar may not inflammatory for you, it could be other factors.

REPLY
dkdarcik | @dkdarcik | Apr 4, 2021
In reply to @gardeningjunkie "I like your idea of adding the bone broth to your GD tonic smoothie. I started..." + (show)
@gardeningjunkie

I like your idea of adding the bone broth to your GD tonic smoothie. I started adding collagen powder to my daily smoothie about a year ago. I am no longer put in cilantro but other healthy foods. I can't say if it helps with eczema because I am asymptomatic but it definitely has made my hair and nails grow faster and stronger. I like the Vital Proteins Original Collagen Peptides, unflavored which is a bovine base. It has a neutral taste and some collagen can be very strongly flavored from the beef or fish. With GD our cells have lost the collagen support network in our symptomatic areas which for me are the common GD torso areas. The down side is that it is expensive.

Jump to this post

I found a low sodium (95mg)chicken bone broth at Sprouts (store brand). It doesn't have a super strong flavor which makes it useful in smoothie. I use about 1/2c each day... I would estimate cost at about $10/month maybe? My issue with most bone broth is the very high sodium-some are close to 1000mg!!
Hopefully this helps with collagen replacement a bit.

REPLY
dkdarcik | @dkdarcik | Apr 4, 2021
In reply to @help4meandu "I really need to try cilantro smoothies as I’ve seen so many shared stories. Just can’t..." + (show)
@help4meandu

I really need to try cilantro smoothies as I’ve seen so many shared stories. Just can’t get motivated but if it truly helps the itching without steroids will be worth the effort. As I write this I have an eruption on inside of my wrist. They pop up all over without notice.

Jump to this post

You have my total sympathy ( and empathy!) It's a frustrating condition... I really did find relief with cilantro- not yet in remission but still hopeful. At least the constant breakouts and itching have stopped. Try the cilantro- you"ll get into a routine with it and it'll be easy:-)

REPLY
dkdarcik | @dkdarcik | Apr 4, 2021
In reply to @sealover101 "If you get 6 bunches of cilantro that should be enough for 2 weeks. I get..." + (show)
@sealover101

If you get 6 bunches of cilantro that should be enough for 2 weeks. I get mine from Whole Foods. I cut most of the stems off to about 3 inches left just for smoothness. There is no exact amount. Take half a bunch, add a little water to get blender going, pulse and mix. Then add 1/2 container Greek yogurt, I use Chobani...fruit..5.3 ounces. Let blender mix until smooth and pour into silicone ice cube trays ( larger than old fashioned trays) and freeze. I see that others add more ingredients, which is good; but my purpose is really just to get the cilantro into my system. Basic but serves the purpose. If I can do it, anybody can. Surely beats out the hundreds $$$ of dollars spent on prescriptions, and Dr. appointments. Actually at my last dermatologist appointment, I told the Dr. about the Mayo site and cilantro. He listened and wrote it down and said he was going to share with a patient who has found no relief from everything he has tried. That's a big admission !!!!! Cilantro offers hope and is good for you, too .Try it and see what can be achieved.

Jump to this post

That's a great idea! Saves the time of making a daily smoothie!
Were you in total remission after 6 weeks?? I'm still having breakouts after 8 weeks of cilantro- wishing and hoping for total remission soon...

REPLY
2 replies
dkdarcik | @dkdarcik | Apr 4, 2021
In reply to @help4meandu "Thanks for sharing. I agree about heat being significant factor. Maybe that’s why it’s worse at..." + (show)
@help4meandu

Thanks for sharing. I agree about heat being significant factor. Maybe that’s why it’s worse at night under covers when our body temp rises. Also summer is worse. Whoever mentioned using Selsun blue medicated shampoo thank you. I’ve been using as supplement to my body wash for past couple weeks as well as on scalp and seems to be helping.
I do consume too much sugar so need to cut back.

Jump to this post

I live in California and when we get the dry Santa Ana winds...that's a huge trigger for my GD. I increase the cilantro on those days and it seems to help somewhat. We are retiring next year to Ireland - I am so excited for the cold, humid weather!!! People without GD think I'm crazy but I just feel so much better in that climate!

REPLY
1 reply
sealover101 | @sealover101 | Apr 4, 2021
In reply to @dkdarcik "That's a great idea! Saves the time of making a daily smoothie! Were you in total..." + (show)
@dkdarcik

That's a great idea! Saves the time of making a daily smoothie!
Were you in total remission after 6 weeks?? I'm still having breakouts after 8 weeks of cilantro- wishing and hoping for total remission soon...

Jump to this post

No, not total remission; but compared to the worst that it was, it"s a huge improvement. Since I may never know for sure what the triggers are, I'm much improved. Actually I feel as if I have my life back. With any illness, a toll is taken on your body. Perfection may not be attainable; but I'm very grateful that Grover's is no longer ruining every precious day. Keep going, you are on the right track!!!

REPLY
gardeningjunkie | @gardeningjunkie | Apr 5, 2021
In reply to @dkdarcik "That's a great idea! Saves the time of making a daily smoothie! Were you in total..." + (show)
@dkdarcik

That's a great idea! Saves the time of making a daily smoothie!
Were you in total remission after 6 weeks?? I'm still having breakouts after 8 weeks of cilantro- wishing and hoping for total remission soon...

Jump to this post

In my case the new breakouts slowed and stopped after 6 weeks but it took almost 6 months or longer for all the scabs to drop off permanently. They just stayed the same for months on end, less itchy and less painful, but if scratched off they would scab over. I thought I would be scarred for life, but that was not the case.

REPLY
looking4relief | @looking4relief | Apr 7, 2021

Hello all. I'm new to the group but so thankful I stumbled onto this site when looking up Grovers. I was diagnosed with Grovers disease in Feb 2021. I had what I thought was a heat rash under both breasts. My derm looked at it, suspected Grovers. This was confirmed by a biopsy and she also took my case to Grand Rounds and they all agreed it was Grovers with pics, hx and biopsy. It's been a very itchy, miserable couple of months. She had me try triamcinolone first, then we tried calcipotriene which actually seemed to make it worse. I had a really bad flare up about a week ago when I found your group and started reading. I've been doing daily cilantro smoothies and there has been a remarkable improvement. Itching is gone, redness is gone. Small bumps still visible but not irritated anymore. I am a middle aged women with history of asthma as a child, seasonal allergies. My history with vaccines is this:
Shingrix #1: 08/12/20
Shingrix #2: 10/26/20
Pfizer covid #1:12/29/20
Pfizer #2: 01/19/21

First call to my derm: 02/02/21

Thanks again for your suggestion of cilantro!

REPLY
1 reply
help4meandu | @help4meandu | Apr 11, 2021
In reply to @dkdarcik "I live in California and when we get the dry Santa Ana winds...that's a huge trigger..." + (show)
@dkdarcik

I live in California and when we get the dry Santa Ana winds...that's a huge trigger for my GD. I increase the cilantro on those days and it seems to help somewhat. We are retiring next year to Ireland - I am so excited for the cold, humid weather!!! People without GD think I'm crazy but I just feel so much better in that climate!

Jump to this post

I agree about climate. As much as I’d like to live in Fl near friends I would not be able to tolerate the summers. Even slight climate change or high humidity causes outbreaks. I’m seeing what look like Grover lesions that resemble pimples on my arms and legs. I know they usually appear on trunk but for me no area is immune. I still think there is a connection with my stress and anxiety.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.