Grover's Disease Remedies

Hi all, at first sorry for my poor english (I'm italian). It is a long time I suffer for grover disease (years), up to a month ago. that time a gave a try to medicinal mushrooms, rieshi and shiitake. Make sure pills are composed of extract PLUS powder of the mushroom, both of them. Take 4 grams per day each mushroom, 2 grams breakfast and other 2 at dinner. Results may arrive in 2 weeks, amazing!

I have Grover's Disease, confirmed by a dermatologist and a pathology. My first major outbreak was in 2004, with subsequent major outbreaks in 2006 and 2007. I have discovered that the outbreaks are caused by ingestion of sulfites which I am apparently sensitive to. As you may know, sulfites are plentiful in all manner of food and drink, especially psckaged french fries and hash browns, out of season fruits and vegatables and unfortunately, wine and brandy. (and probably beer) I believe that many years of enjoying alcoholic beverages may have damaged my liver's ability to process sulfites. However, I have found that taking molybdenum has negated my problem with sulfites and I am no longer troubled by Grover's. I take one capsule per day (1, 000 mcg). I have no trouble with wine and occasionally even have a few french fries. I don't know if sulfites cause Grover's outbreaks in anybody else but you might want to consider it.

I was diagnosed with grover's disease in January of this year. The symptoms began with very itchy feet at night and the progressed to outbreaks on back, chest, stomach, arms and legs. At one point, my arms became totally inflamed and looked like lizard skin. This is a horrible condition and my heart goes out to all of you that are enduring this. I have been to four doctors, two of which are dermatologists. The family physicians had never heard of it, so no help there. The dermatologists had absolutely no real advice to give, other than topical steroids, which don't really help unless you could bathe in the stuff.

The posts and words of advice on this forum have been the only relief and help I have had, so thank you everyone. I want to post what has helped me. To me this seems very inflammatory. I have found that ibuprofen helps alot. If you space it out as needed and throughout the day, it can bring relief. Also another thing that I haven't seen posted too much is baking soda baths. About 1/2 to 1 cup in the tub and soak 30 minutes helps with the itching and it is not toxic.

At night I take an antihistamine like Benadryl which helps with the itching and for sleeping. For diet, I have added vitamin D and Omega 3 supplements daily, along vitamin C. I drink the juice of a lemon (diluted in water) and also cilantro a few times a week. One dermatologist told me not to exercise (?) but that sounded so depressing. I try to walk every day for a few miles. No one knows if this is an immune disorder, but I believe that staying as heathy as possible has to help. I pray for you all, that you all will back to health and well again very soon.

There have been many comments regarding dietary changes (both pro & Con), coconut oil and other topical aides. I would just like to share a few suggestions that have had a very positive long term impact on people suffering chronic extreme skin conditions including Grover's.

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.

I've had Grover's for 11 months. After much trial and error, this has worked for me:

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.

Grover's Skin Disorder and Polycythemia Vera:

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.

I had suffered from Grover's disease for about a year. My doctor couldn't tell me what it was but a specialist diagnosed it. Somewhere I read that Oregano oil relieved a sufferer, I bought some and found it too strong. However I went out to my herb garden and ate 3 leaves off my Oregano herb. It is very pungent. 3 leaves (and they are very small) twice a day after meals. And now after about 4 weeks I am almost clear from this constant itch which was driving me mad. I want to tell the whole world. For me I have gone 95% totally clear.

Grover's Disease OTC Itching control that works for me:

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.

Last summer I was diagnosed with Grover's disease .. Fought it all summer.. it came back this summer ..a friend of mine told me her secret to treating it. Monistat 7 cream ..applied 2-3 times a day. I did this and within 3 days it's almost gone!

I hope this helps: Claritin OTC works for the itching of Grover's but not the rash. A huge improvement tho'. Someone on one of the community index sites suggested it and since I already have seasonal allergies but not as much in winter, I resumed the Claritin, 2 times a day: morning/evening. After day one the itching backed off by 80%. After 2 weeks, I'm itch-free. I'll probably be taking Claritin for the rest of my life.

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.

I have found a near miracle to get relief from the intense itch of Grover's Disease. It is Peppermint essential oil. I mix it with Nivea lotion or Coconut Oil. You can adjust the portion to your own liking. I put about 1 1/2 tablespoonfuls to about 4-5 drops of oil in my hand, mix it up and apply. I get about 10-12 hours of relief from the itch plus it helps with keeping the skin moist and healing. I'm grateful!!!!!

I had Grovers for about 15 years. About two months ago, I had all my metal fillings replaced and my Grovers has cleared-up.

Thanks and good luck..

For grovers disease:

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.

I was diagnosed with Grover's Disease 2 years ago and have tried practically everything to get rid of the itching chest rash. Recently I started using sea buckthorn berry oil rubbed twice per day directly on the rash and it seems to be clearing up and reducing the itchiness (it's been 4 days) I will update if it clears it up totally.

Hi, Lynn from new Zealand here. Diagnosed with Grovers disease 20 months ago. Have had every steroid cream, OTC creams, lotions and potions, Acetretin and Tetracycline drugs that exist! Or so it seems. Nothing really ever "fixed" the problem. Intense itching and spots, sleepless nights and miserable.

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?