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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@locutus

I have never looked into any other possibilities after being diagnosed with Grover's at a dermatologist's office years ago when I first broke out. Oddly enough, he said to me, "I know exactly what that is because I have it myself!"
Thanks for the suggestions. I have an appointment with my primary care doc in a few weeks and I will ask her for a referral to a dermatologist to see if further testing can be done. Stay well!

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Good plan because it is a-typical to be all over your body. Yet in all my years of blogging I have read where some GD sufferers say they get it on other parts of their body, not just from the upper neck down to the front and back torso.
Ask your primary care doctor to refer you to a dermatologist who is licensed to perform the 5 Day Extended Patch Test because not all dermatologists are.

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@gardeningjunkie

Good plan because it is a-typical to be all over your body. Yet in all my years of blogging I have read where some GD sufferers say they get it on other parts of their body, not just from the upper neck down to the front and back torso.
Ask your primary care doctor to refer you to a dermatologist who is licensed to perform the 5 Day Extended Patch Test because not all dermatologists are.

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I will. Thanks again!

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@gardeningjunkie

Good plan because it is a-typical to be all over your body. Yet in all my years of blogging I have read where some GD sufferers say they get it on other parts of their body, not just from the upper neck down to the front and back torso.
Ask your primary care doctor to refer you to a dermatologist who is licensed to perform the 5 Day Extended Patch Test because not all dermatologists are.

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You are a wonderful woman. I really look forward to reading your blogs as they always contain such good information and sage advice. I truly appreciate your sense of empathy for all the sufferers. Thank you for all that you do for this unfortunate community. You are a blessing.

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@nodgabnoj

You are a wonderful woman. I really look forward to reading your blogs as they always contain such good information and sage advice. I truly appreciate your sense of empathy for all the sufferers. Thank you for all that you do for this unfortunate community. You are a blessing.

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Your comments are informative and helpful. Medical science has not been able to help us with this form of eczema and if not for blogging I wouldn't be free of it today. You nodgabnoj are still needing to figure out a treatment or avoidances that will help you. You are persistent and not a quitter, like me. Keep up the search and hopefully one day you can be like me and be able to share with others helpful treatments which worked for you.

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I have found some help using Selsun blue shampoo as body wash which sounds strange but the medication in it gives some relief. My grovers keep popping up randomly on feet, legs as well as more typically torso. I empathize with the frustration. The only thing that helps itching is applying conservatively the betamethasone cream my dermatologist prescribed. But have to be careful with steroids. Plus I take Benadryl every night in order to sleep and control itching. Again, with meds there is no free lunch. I really have to try the smoothies.

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@help4meandu

I have found some help using Selsun blue shampoo as body wash which sounds strange but the medication in it gives some relief. My grovers keep popping up randomly on feet, legs as well as more typically torso. I empathize with the frustration. The only thing that helps itching is applying conservatively the betamethasone cream my dermatologist prescribed. But have to be careful with steroids. Plus I take Benadryl every night in order to sleep and control itching. Again, with meds there is no free lunch. I really have to try the smoothies.

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Thanks for the mention of the Betamaethasone cream prescribed by your dermatologist. I have been using Triamcinolone Acetonide cream, 0.1% off and on for years and it has been only slightly and inconsistently helpful. It looks like the Beta stuff is a stronger steroid cream and I will try to get a doc to prescribe some for me to experiment with. Being a stronger steroid, have you noticed any of the side effects mentioned in the info sheet that comes with it?
Also, I noticed your comment about taking Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCL) every night for sleep. If you are not taking the generic version, it is cheaper and the same thing, but you probably already know that. At Costco, I found something that helps me sleep far better than that substance. It is called Kirkland Sleep Aid and is also an antihistamine. The chemical name of the antihistamine is Doxylamine Succinate @ 25 mg. Also, it is very reasonably priced, but I don't recall the amount. There is a slight indentation on one side of the tablets to guide you in cutting them into two pieces, which is what I do, and 1/2 tablet lasts me all night long for about 8 hours. You might feel groggy in the morning when you wake up, but at least you slept!
Finally, I never had Grover's wander to parts of my body other than the front and back of my upper torso until just recently. Now it has been popping up on my arms, legs, hands and feet. It's a good thing I am retired and live alone in my own home because putting clothes on over all those sores can drive me CRAZY! HAHAHA

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Corticosteroid creams, (Betamethasone valerate 0.2%), may have some skin irritations for some users.
Your Dermatologist should also advise you that it will THIN YOUR SKIN with prolonged usage.

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@locutus

Thanks for the mention of the Betamaethasone cream prescribed by your dermatologist. I have been using Triamcinolone Acetonide cream, 0.1% off and on for years and it has been only slightly and inconsistently helpful. It looks like the Beta stuff is a stronger steroid cream and I will try to get a doc to prescribe some for me to experiment with. Being a stronger steroid, have you noticed any of the side effects mentioned in the info sheet that comes with it?
Also, I noticed your comment about taking Benadryl (diphenhydramine HCL) every night for sleep. If you are not taking the generic version, it is cheaper and the same thing, but you probably already know that. At Costco, I found something that helps me sleep far better than that substance. It is called Kirkland Sleep Aid and is also an antihistamine. The chemical name of the antihistamine is Doxylamine Succinate @ 25 mg. Also, it is very reasonably priced, but I don't recall the amount. There is a slight indentation on one side of the tablets to guide you in cutting them into two pieces, which is what I do, and 1/2 tablet lasts me all night long for about 8 hours. You might feel groggy in the morning when you wake up, but at least you slept!
Finally, I never had Grover's wander to parts of my body other than the front and back of my upper torso until just recently. Now it has been popping up on my arms, legs, hands and feet. It's a good thing I am retired and live alone in my own home because putting clothes on over all those sores can drive me CRAZY! HAHAHA

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I also take generic versions of Benadryl from Walmart and target and break in half. Usually have to take other half in middle of night. Also use generic antihistamine cream.
I haven’t noticed side effects yet from the betamethasone but trying to use sparingly as derm advised.
When outbreaks erupt I’m so focused on arresting them I try everything.
It does affect my already fragile mental state!

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@help4meandu

I also take generic versions of Benadryl from Walmart and target and break in half. Usually have to take other half in middle of night. Also use generic antihistamine cream.
I haven’t noticed side effects yet from the betamethasone but trying to use sparingly as derm advised.
When outbreaks erupt I’m so focused on arresting them I try everything.
It does affect my already fragile mental state!

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Yes indeed, the mental state can be extremely difficult when the Grover's seems absolutely merciless in trying to make you unbearably miserable. I live in a state where marijuana has been legalized and they have dozens of different blends of the various strains for whatever objective you want to achieve. I don't know how effective this might be for one's mood, but I may have to give it a shot someday. As you said about the "try everything" approach when you are suffering badly, I do that too, and I am keeping the Amazon delivery drivers VERY busy. Best of luck!

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@locutus

Yes indeed, the mental state can be extremely difficult when the Grover's seems absolutely merciless in trying to make you unbearably miserable. I live in a state where marijuana has been legalized and they have dozens of different blends of the various strains for whatever objective you want to achieve. I don't know how effective this might be for one's mood, but I may have to give it a shot someday. As you said about the "try everything" approach when you are suffering badly, I do that too, and I am keeping the Amazon delivery drivers VERY busy. Best of luck!

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Let me know if you find a marijuana blend that helps.

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