What is Grover's disease of the skin?

I am a 77 yr old female with an intensely itchy back. Doc mentioned Grovers. But I have no red spots. I can feel a slight raising of the skin all over, maybe small bumps...but never red. Intensely Itchy !! Could it be Grovers without the red spots?

That's a good question @rlcpd1. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology - "Sometimes the features of Grover's are found in people who do not itch or have a conspicuous rash. Most of the people with Grover's who visit a dermatologist, however, itch a lot." -- https://www.aocd.org/page/GroversDisease

Thank you! This itch is beyond intense, even bothered my sleep a few times. Update: My husband has said that I have had some red spots…not seen by me. I think I would choose More red spots and Less itch. My thanks again.

This sounds like my Grovers condition that started on back, stomach chest and neck then popped up randomly on legs. The itching destroyed my sleep and mental health. Getting a biopsy to confirm will help. I use steroid cream sparingly, take cilantro capsules (others use other forms) and collagen capsules. Huge improvement after suffering badly for few years. Thinking of you.

My first post here. Mayo diagnosed my GD a month ago. I think I've had it for about a year. Suspect it may have started after a bad exposure to boat bottom paint (copper, biocide, herbicide) when I lay on my back under the boat to sand and paint (in a spot where hundreds of boats had done the same). The itching is wicked, and can only be kept to a dull roar with Rx steroid cream X2 per day plus generic Sarna in between. I'm on day 12 of cilantro shakes and maybe its helping? I cruise in my little houseboat, sleeping in a hammock in the summer. I find when I'm sleeping in the hammock for a couple of nights the itching is dramatically reduced. My theory is that the hammock cools my back all night, as opposed to the heat build up from a mattress or armchair. Has anyone tried a hammock?

You can get an evaporative cooling pad for you bed. It cools water by evaporation and pumps the cool water through the pad. Works quite well.

Thanks

Which is better? An evaporative cooling pad or a phase change gel pad?

Many of us with excema have several forms. I have GD but also Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD. You're assessment about the hammock allowing cooling to your back is probably the reason for your symtom reduction, but have you had the 5 Day Extended Patch Test for allergens? My eczema symtoms became exaserbated after I got a memory foam mattress. Patch test results showed an allergy to an element in memory foam. Memory foam is formulated with an element from rubber which is not used to process polyuethane foam. This element from rubber is also used to process blended materials like poly/cotton and other blended materials used in clothing and bedding. Also if your armchair is fabric, many are treated with the adhesives in Scotch Guard, wrinkle free elements or fire retardand. Many like myself are allergic to these treatments. Google this test. I'm not sure of your age, but Medicare pays for this expensive test (about $1,500). Best of luck with the cilantro, it helps many of us. I'm still clear of GD after using fresh and frozen cilantro.

The gel pad are just what it says...a pad. It will go from too-cold to warm in an hour or more.

The evap coolers are meant to last overnight. You have some control over the temp on an evaporative cooler and can (through trial and error) find a setting that you like and hold it at that temperature for the duration of the night. Loose control to your comfort zone. It works. I have one, it can get quite cool in dry conditions because there is a lot of evaporation. It would be less cool in a humid environment because you would get less evaporation. Like I said, by trial and error you can find a reasonably comfortable cool setting that will last overnight.