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What is Grover's disease of the skin?
Skin Health | Last Active: Jan 15 9:36pm | Replies (165)Comment receiving replies
I was about to update my findings -- I was annoyed with itching and rash for twenty years until ~4 mos. ago applied Witch Hazel ( 14% alcohol, full strength , liberally twice daily and took a week or two for relief. Thought it might be a cure, but recently began itching with gradual evidence of rash and am back to the WH. Looking back, wonder if my relief came at close to the cycle downturn? ( usually good for unknown number of months-- then symptoms return for unknown period and repeats.Ruled out seasonal or environmental influences. Perhaps I should have continued with the treatment after relief? Anyway, I am thankful for the help with the itching and will post as situation changes. Generous for Mayo to support such a convenient venue! Hope this may lend some help.
Replies to "I was about to update my findings -- I was annoyed with itching and rash for..."
Like you, I have never had any dormant periods either, and I have had Grover's for probably 15-20 years. Of course, I have had it lower in intensity for awhile, but it has never, ever just gone away completely. I have tried witch hazel too, as well as what we used to call "rubbing alcohol" which is what is mixed in with your witch hazel. I have also tried just the alcohol itself, either in 70% or 90% strength. All of these things help a bit with the itching, at least temporarily. I speculate that it is mostly the cooling effect on your skin as these substances evaporate which is responsible for the temporary relief from itching. The cooling effect is probably also why some people get itching relief from using Sarna lotion since it has menthol in it. I like to use plastic spray bottles sometimes with witch hazel or alcohol in them which is helpful for those little devils that are in areas on your back that you can't reach. I have also put plain water in a spray bottle and then kept it refrigerated and used the cold water spray to temporarily stop the itching. It works, at least for awhile, so this is why I think evaporation and it's cooling effect on the skin is the mechanism behind all these things. If you can take it, using some kind of ice pack also helps. The pain relief roll-ons with 5% Lidocaine can help too because of the numbing effect of the Lidocaine, but I have no idea whether this idea is a good one or not. I just use it very occasionally. Good luck, @elderly1
Am glad that you also find help w/ Witch Hazel. I always bought the 16 fl. oz.
bottle, but found CVS has pressurized 6 oz. can which I generously spray on chest -- then slather around sides and back=very cooling. Currently on the
downturn period, and seems to cycle up to six months.
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The majority of us with GD have active and dormant periods. For you to have to deal with this constantly for 20 years is awful. GD or Grover's Disease or Transient Acantholytic Dermatitis, TAD (the preferred medical name) is named such because it is transient, it comes and goes for most of us. Yet some only have one outbreak. There is no proven cure, some treatments help with the itching, but I tried them all and nothing helped put it into dormancy, it had to run it's cycle I would have to wait out my six month active period, then have a 6 month dormant period.
When I was active I did use witch hazel and it would sting a bit but felt refreshing and it is anti-bacterial.
Cilantro seems to help about half of us, it is not even referred to in any eczema sites as a treatment to put us into remission and I do wish a documented study would take place so others could learn about this. Even if a scientific study is not taken, it should be mentioned as a possible treatment.