Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
1. While the dietary changes may not create an instant 'cure' for your skin condition, eliminating known inflammatory foods and foods with a high sensitivity reaction (i.e. wheat, artificial sweeteners, dyes and chemical ingredients) will improve your over-all health and reduce your whole body inflammation making you less susceptible to flare ups of any dormant condition.
2. Coconut oil can be very soothing...it usually has an impact on skin repair due to it's anti-bacterial properties. I am a huge fan of both the topical and oral benefits of coconut oil but do be careful about extensive long term topical use as some people actually end up with extremely dry skin after repeated daily use...the rash will be gone but the skin will be dry.
3. Probiotics- If there is any bacterial imbalance or lack of beneficial bacteria your immune system will be less than optimal...again, setting you up for a flare up of anything dormant in your system. If you have taken anti-biotics, had a stomach virus or a colonoscopy in the past year then you will benefit from use of a good probiotic.
4. Neem Oil. This stuff stinks to high heaven (unless you are a garlic lover) BUT the healing properties are fantastic...it can be used directly on a severe skin outbreak of any kind (acne, psoriasis, dermatitis of any kind including Grovers) or a few drops can be added to a carrier oil, shampoo or other body care product.
5. Support your skin from the inside out...if you are older and have 'fragile' skin, or are of any age with moderate to severe dry skin you can support the health of your skin with any of the following supplements (or foods)- Skin Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Bone Broth or high Quality bone broth protein (for the collagen) and Astaxanthin.
Stop using body care products that contain chemical ingredients...keep it simple so that you don't end up making your skin worse!
Almost everyone that I have ever worked with to heal a skin issue has had success after working with a combination of these lifestyle changes, body care and supplementation.
(Eramus)
06/14/2017
My DH is 74 years old and on a corticosteroid inhaler for emphysema. This stuff has thinned his skin & he has crusty patches that he picks at. One ear practically has a hole in it and it's in his sideburns/beard. Would neem oil help? We've tried acv, vco, oregano oil, colloidal silver, d3 and so much else. I know that his skin sheds toxins b/c he'll get red spots on his back when he has a lung infection--we always know before the dr does. We work on his nutrition but it's hard since he hardly has energy to eat at all and can't chew the raw stuff. We do fix him bone broth and plenty of veg's, low sugar. He can't stop the inhaler or he won't breathe at all. If neem will help, just mix w/ olive oil or something and apply? Thanks.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★☆
For the rash, application of triamcinolone 0.1% cream twice daily on affected spots. Liberal use of moisturizing cream (any kind) many times a day on all parts of the body and especially on the itchy spots. Only lukewarm showers. No soap (it dries the skin).
For the itching, 1000 mg quercetin daily (available online or in health food stores), and avoiding foods and drinks that either contain histamine or produce histamine in the body. This had been particularly helpful. I usually take it just before dinner, because it's harder to limit the histamine foods for a larger meal. I also take a half pill of Benadryl before bed, and a blend of bifidus probiotics, to help my system produce DAO, which is implicated in histamine intolerance.The Grover's is now under control and I no longer think about the itch.
Oil Pulling, Coconut Oil
Hello out there. Could use some help here in regards to the Grovers issues, read the oil pulling, which I hope will help and going to take Coconut oil capsules as well with using the oils recommended. The Poly Vera have had for 7 years and treated with med and blood withdraws. Yuk but it works. Anybody out there that has this? Thanks.
(Jacksonville, Fl)
12/19/2016
The type of water we use to bathe ourselves probably has an effect on grover's disease. I've had grover's for a few years, and it's almost gone because I realized that the more you irritate it with over the counter lotions and perscription creams - the worse it gets, or it just doesn't go away. I don't have a water softner in my house and I shower with "hard" water. I started showering the area that showed a rash WITHOUT using body washes or soaps, and the rash went away. Yes, the grover's disease rash still shows up once in a while. If it flares up, I use a irish spring soap bar (Publix grocery store makes a "spring fresh" brand), and the soap bar really helps my skin. Then I go back to washing my skin in the shower without soap. My skin looks clear from doing this.
(New York City)
12/21/2016
(Jacksonville, Fl)
12/22/2016
Oregano Herb
★★★★★
OTC
★★★★☆
I just found this site a few hours ago and wanted to pass on what is working for me. I haven't read all the posts but I am thankful that this site exists and you all post to try and help each other.
Although I have had intense itching for over 4 months, I only received the results of a biopsy confirming Grovers about a month ago. My dermatologist recommended Gold Bond Relief Lotion with 3% Salicylic Acid. It is an over the counter lotion that works for her other Grovers' patients and it is available at Walmart and Target for under $10. Supposedly other drug stores carry it at a higher price but I have not been able to find it.
The salicylic acid lotion works almost immediately for about 6 hours most of the time. A second application over the first application works, but not nearly as effective as immediately following a shower or bath. (I have read reports that bathing submerged for at least 5 min is best, but a shower works for me.)
A few days ago I tried A&D ointment and that worked great in suppressing the itching the one time that I tried it. Going bare chested without a shirt is also very effective in extending the time duration after applying the Salicylic Acid.
The dermatologist prescribed the antihistamine Hydroxyzine HCL 25mg. Although the direction is for 1 pill, I take 1/2 a pill before bed and I usually sleep through the night without waking up itching. I also have a prescription for 6% Salicylic Acid cream but the cream and lotion have been discontinued (not FDA approved). I tried the 6% gel, but it makes me light headed and since the 3% works I am happy to stay with it.
Good luck .... I hope this helps someone.
OTC
★★★★★
(Mashpee Ma)
07/31/2014
I have been diagnoist with Grovers also ealier this year. I have been on steroids with no effect at all. I read this post about using Monistat 7 and decided to try it. I use it 2x/day then put baby powder on the lesions. I also take 2400mg fish oil / day. This has definately helped me. This itching goes away within 3days but I stopped using it for 4 days while recovering from unrelated surgery and it came back in full force.
I have also noticed that staying out of the heat will help. I tried taking an oatmeal bath as recomended by an RN and my legs broke out something awful. It may have been the temp of the hot bath however.
(Stevenson, Wa)
03/04/2016
Did you put Monistat 7 on open sores and rash?
OTC Claritin
With regards to the rash itself, I'm suspicious it's histamine-related since it behaves similar to my eyelid swelling & itching: flares in extremes of hot & cold weather. The Elidel Rx that works for my eyelids doesn't work for the Grover's, nor does Retin-A that I have on hand. I'll be discussing this topic with my dermatologist next visit. The Triamcynolone only keeps the Grover's at bay, at best, as was already discussed.
Peppermint Oil
★★★★★
Reishi and Shiitake Mushrooms
★★★★★
Replace Metal Fillings
★★★★★
Thanks and good luck..
(Philadelphia, Pa.)
03/27/2017
I had bilateral knee surgery last June and after the implants I noticed the rash and last week it was confirmed by biopsy? Do you have any other information about metals introduced into the body causing Grovers?
(Philadelphia)
04/03/2018
★☆☆☆☆
I know you posted a while back. And sadly, I wish what the comment about metal fillings was true. I've held a dental license for over 20 years and there is NO proof that the removal of dental fillings does any help in this area, or really and any area. If it did, I would be the first to shout it from the roof tops. I wish my fiancée's cure to Grover's disease was this simple. That means that I (I.E.- ME AND MY CLOSE COLLEAGUES) could and would, all afflicted tomorrow. However he has NO metal fillings nor metal joints. This is nothing more that hocus pocus and wishful feelings..
Salt Baths
★★★★★
Take salt baths, I use salt, baking soda, and borax. For small flare ups, I make a sea salt solution until it won't dissolve any more salt and apply directly to the outbreaks. This has rescued me.
(Long Beach)
10/06/2016
I was just recently diagnosed with grovers disease and will be going back to the doctor. I have been searching the websites to find out of it can be transferred to someone else as I care for two grandchildren. If you can help me with this one question I would be thankful.
(Santa Rosa, Ca, Usa)
03/10/2018
I am an ancient avid male swimmer just contacted Grovers. Does anyone know if swimming in a chlorine water pool is definitely counter productive? Staying in shape is also important and yes Grovers is a big pain/itch in the back.
How about this new Salt-only pool purification, anyone had help swimming in that sort of pool water?
Sea Buckthorn Berry
★★★★★
Seawater
★★★★☆
HOWEVER, I recently went on an extended holiday in Bali and swam 2-3 times a day in seawater. Over a short period the rash and itch improved and almost disappeared. Then I went on to Malysia where the seawater was too polluted for swimming. Swam in hotel pools, rash returned . It got me thinking about seawater so I researched this well. Found a site and read the story of Richard L who has cured his Grovers with seaweed powder. I made a paste and applied it afer showering, leave on for 15 minutes and then shower off. Do this for quite some time and he claims his grovers is gone. I'm trying this now.
Also am going to hot pools nearby that are seawater heated by heat exchange, so natural. Skin feels much better afetr each swim and rash and itch DEFINITELY improving. I'll do this for the rest of my life if it gets rid of the Grovers and makes life bearable. Any others found seawater can help?
(Faithville, Usa)
07/09/2017
Two cents : histamine creates itching and Dr. Batmanghelidj in his water cures books wrote that histamine is a SIGNAL that the water/ mineral system in the body is out of balance. Sometimes the digestive tract is short of enzymes or acids and cannot break down ingested items we intake. The skin absorbs whatever it comes into contact with .
(New Zealand)
07/10/2017
Hi Lynn,
For sure....! We were frequently advised by parents when growing up on our small island in the pre-historic era to take our skin problems into the surrounding sea water for an inexpensive treatment. Seemed to work a treat. We are prone to being somewhat cynical of things touted as being simple or free but it is frequently in the mind I reckon. My ears and sinus condition also improved if I tried a bit of diving, as long as I pretended to be a dog when exiting the water by shaking my head about a bit to drain the ears, much to the amusement of my friends and on-lookers. This was the brief period in my life when I cared what people thought of me! Only when I got a perforated ear drum was I cautioned not to go swimming for a whole year. If you try out the usual hot pools though, you ought not to duck under unless they are certified as being safe to do so. The offending amoeba is also present in parts of the States as well as New Zealand (in case any Americans are reading this! ). Our grandparents knew a thing or two or three!
Cheers, Michael
(Fl)
09/04/2017
Skin & Gut Health
★★★★★
Tea Tree Oil
★★★★☆
I started using Tea Tree Oil at night and my husband noticed a difference and it is looking better. The bad thing is Tea Tree Oil smells awful. I do not know what I am going to do if we end up moving to Florida with the job change. The heat and sweating is bad for my skin.
