Grover's Disease: Natural Remedies for Relief

I recently was diagnosed with Grovers Disease and the Triamcinolone cream is not working and making it worse. This is the worst I have ever had it since I was a teenager.

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.

Did you mean grapefruit seed extract? I have heard of this for clearing yeast. Not grape seed extract. Thanks for clarifying.

I was diagnosed with Grover's Disease over three years ago. Flare ups have been decreasing. The interesting thing is, my doctor told me to avoid the sun and wear cotton clothing to avoid overheating and not letting my skin breathe. So....what made you decide that sun would be good? Just curious?

I finally found out this week after itching for 2 years that I have Grover's disease...I like drinking beer so do you think that may cause this?

I have found that an ice pack applied to the area where the itching is occurring during a Grover's disease outbreak is extremely effective to bring almost immediate relief.

I second that Kerry of Melborne...I too have them on my upper legs, little on lower, but they are not itchy all ALL! I had a bipsy of one of the bumps an d was told it was GROVERS?! So strange to have present itself so differently than from all the others on this blog??!

Bob - thank you, thank you, thank you!!! After 20 years of Grover's every winter it's finally gone! As soon as I read you post about wine and scotch the light bulb went off - RED WINE! After years of trying colon cleanses, vitamins, probiotics and elimination diets I realized never cut out the wine - duh. I made the mistake of lumping all alcohol into one category - "I never had a problem with the tons of beer I drank in college". So for me, it is not the sulfites, I verified this by drinking white wine for weeks now. Lesson learned for the rest of you - WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING YOU EAT OR DRINK! I thought I could just muse it over in my head and get it all. I also wouldn't rule out locations you spend a lot of time in (maybe its mold in walls or something).

Thanks again Bob.

I have had Grover's for about 4 years. The first time it appeared I was covered on chest, back and legs. Went on a 2 week steroid which also made me crazy. This did send into remission I think. However, since then I have taken 1 allergy pill a day and a hydroxsine and this kept it at bay for a while. It seems to come back twice a year and usually I can calm it by taking Hydroxine. I had been taking vitamin d and fish oil for a long time. I stopped for some reason and then went to HOT YOGA! Big mistake. The virus came alive and have had a horrible time getting it to calm down.

I started taking 1000mg vitamin D, claritan, 2 Hydroxine's every 4 hours. Still would not go away. Started hibiclens and oat mill shower wash and then started laying out in the sun an hour a day. (light treatments gave me this idea) Before I wasn't sleeping hardly at all. Now its under control and seems to be going away. I also use cerave lotion twice a day. Hope this helps somebody!

This makes me think it's the herbicides and pesticides that have become so prevalent. Just like, it's not the glutton, it's the glyphosate, they do not make booze the traditional way any longer and grains are sprayed with glyphosate to kill it so they can harvest without waiting on Mother Nature. But good to know, I had recently started drinking a bit and had a flare. Thank you, I will keep this in mind.

Sabtram, you said "Grape Seed Extract". Did you possibly mean Grapefruit Seed Extract by chance? I have had some success with the latter. Currently breaking out again on since I quit taking it because I thought it was gone. Then poof another flare up. Taking it again now for just maybe five (5) days. I take 3 pills a day (125mg) until it subsides..hopefully. If it does the Grapefruit Seed Extract will be my management method of choice. I say management method because it never goes away entirely but on somedays I can't seem to find it anywhere on me. But somehow at least 1 to 3 little tiny blisters show up. During a flare up I'm guessing there would be several hundred on my front and too hard to count the back side. So Grapefruit Seed Extract works for me. Just would love to double check if that is what you meant. Itching to know here in Chicago. Thanks!

I have had success with hydrogen peroxide. At the sign of an outbreak I use towelettes soaked in hp. I have spray bottles too. It will usually knock it down after a week or so. That way I can avoid a course of antibiotics. I also take lukewarm showers twice a day.

Oh yes, this is the rest of my story. I read that Mayo clinic has linked Grover's to too much mercury in your system. So I ate garlic as my regular snack. I am now going to be tested by Quicksilver Labs with a new test for mercury. This might be why the garlic pills work. After I get the test results, I am going to a specially trained dentist to have my mercury fillings removed. I now understand your dentist has to be specially trained to remove mercury fillings from your mouth. Be sure to check this info out before you have any fillings removed.

I was diagnosed with Grover's Disease in 2011 and suffered 12 weeks. Five of those weeks I could not sleep at all. It covered my back, front, down my legs to my knees and around my shoulders. There was nothing the doctor could do for me. By the grace of God, I went from sores to a clean back in one night. I thought that was that. But, ten weeks ago I started to break out again. For three weeks there was no sleep. Between the two experiences I went off all wheat which changed my life for the better. I do not plan to go back on wheat, but I did get Grover's again. I do think there is a link to wheat. I was found to have very low vitamin D in 2011, so I think that might be another link. I was also a little low in B12 and I was taking a supplement off and on. I am currently in the 11th week and last week I discovered lavender essential oil. I applied it to the skin and saw improvement. But the best effect was I was able to sleep most of the night. I found out later there have been double blind studies that it helps sleep. We heal when we sleep and I think, now I am about finished with this Grover's. I plan to stay off wheat and take a Vitamin D3 supplement along with my organic whole food supplement for the other vitamins.

Also, some of the best advise I received was to take 3 tablespoons of cold first pressed olive oil in the morning and again at night. It does wonders. I also used the organic coconut oil on the rash and it helped a little. It is my choice of lotion. If I break out again, I will try the ice packs. I get a mega dose of Grover's when I get it. I also think a quick lukewarm shower twice a day helps at the worst of it and then down to one quick shower for moisture. This year I bought a humidifier to keep the humidity at 55 in the house when the heater is running. FYI my blood tests look great for the usual things. I am usually very healthy. I am not overweight. The Grover's did make it to the skin that as not seen the sun. I currently eat all whole foods. There are great recipes out there. I have eaten this way for about a year and a half. My theory is that I got into something I shouldn't have eaten at Thanksgiving (that is when rash started again) or my D and B dropped down again. Hope this helps someone.

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.

Thanks for that , will definitely give that a try. I have just been diagnosed with Grovers. It's so scary! I am so healthy and used to love being out in the sun and gyming, but now so afraid to sweat and get hot. Does sun affect Grovers at all /or worsen it? The Vit D3 - are these pills you take?

Many thanks :)

I have had the condition for 15 years. I use prescription steroid creams when flare ups get bad. Went to the BVI's last year and stayed on a catamaran for a week. Rash disappeared for a few weeks when I got back home. I asked the doctor if it was the salt water that made it better. He said it was the UV light from being in the sun so much. Does anyone know about UV light treatments? Tanning bed? Light I can buy and use at home?

I suffered for 10+ years with Grover's disease and treated it (pretty well) with Kyolic Garlic pills (2 in the am, 2 in the pm - the Candida type). Finally my dermatologist mentioned she thought I might have a "yeast problem". I also had sebhorreic keratosis outbreaks and dandruff. I sent in a stool sample (you can get these kits from a Naturopathic Doctor or a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner) and indeed had a slight overgrowth (in my gut) of yeast. I took 2 weeks of grape seed extract pills (specific to the type of yeast I had) and haven't had an outbreak of Grover's or sebhorreic dermatitis since! And, I went off the Kyolic garlic pills. Seems hard to believe it's a coincidence, as I've been in saunas and have been sweaty many times since then. Highly recommend trying this! Good luck to you all!

Grover's Disease

Some exciting news for anyone unfortunate enough to be suffering from Grover's Disease.

I first noticed evidence of Grover's disease in 2011 with spreading lesions on my torso both back and front. Visits to dermatologists in London and New York including biopsies confirmed that the lesions were caused by Grover's Disease which I was told was incurable. However, I noticed that the symptoms were far less noticeable in the summer months and guessed that lack of Vitamin D may be part of the issue.

In 2012, I started to take 4 x Vitamin D3 (Potency 10ug = 10 micrograms equivalent to 400 IU = 400 International Units) per day. I immediately noticed an improvement to such an extent that after some months the symptoms and the scars had completely healed. I then experimented by coming off Vitamin D3 in the summer of 2012 but after some weeks the symptoms returned, so I took Vitamin D3 for six or seven months over the winter of 2012/2013 and once again the symptoms disappeared following which I stopped taking Vitamin D3 regularly.

As I write this in December 2014 the symptoms are completely under control and whenever the signs reoccur, a short spell on Vitamin D3 supresses them completely. So, my experience suggests that if not a cure, Vitamin D3 in the doses I use is a highly effective way of treating this unpleasant and irritating disease.

I hope it works for you.

Hi I was diagnosed today and am overwhelmed! I had this since July and finally at Shands in Gainesville I got diagnosed I have used the coconut oil with no relief. I see you are laying in the sun a few minutes a day and it doesn't bother you.

Your advice was helpful and made sense.

I have been a firefighter for 14 years and have had Grover's ever since. I have tried everything for Grover's Disease. To keep it at bay eat healthy natural foods, avoid excessive heat and stress, cut back on alcohol and caffeine. The underlying problem is within the skin, so foods and supplements good for your skin help fight Grover's. Consider a good hair, skin, and nail vitamin. If you have a flair up use a good mild cleansing soap. If the itch is really bad use ice packs, also rubbing alcohol kills the itch and cleans the area. Again, maintaining a healthy lifestyle works best. Sincerely, Chris

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.

I have to disagree.... In SOME cases grover's can go away on its own. I have suffered for 25 years. Almost always in some sort of break out somewhere on my body. The only relief for me has been acutane. Don't love going on it but it stopped it completely while taking it. After two months off it erupted in full force. I would like to try a natural remedy and I have in the past, but nothing really worked. I'm still searching.

I read about how baby powder with zinc oxide and 1000 mg of garlic pills helps with Grover's disease. When do you start to see results? How long does it take for the rash to completely go away? Is there any particulars on how and when to take this remedy? Is there a specific nappy baby powder to be used? Thanks!

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 contracted Grover's Disease 10 years ago when I lay in bed for 3 months following a head-on collision that broke my bones in 27 places. Several months ago I discovered that coating the area with Hibiclens, a strong and inexpensive antibiotic available without a prescription, for a couple minutes when I take my morning shower, almost completely eliminates the pustules, at least by 80%. Aloe vera or coconut oil also help a little. I am currently applying the Hibiclens only every other day, and I have not experimented to see if I stay cleared up if I stop the Hibiclens.

I've had Grover's Disease for many years, and was FINALLY diagnosed a couple of years ago. I had a second biopsy just to make sure and confirm. The ONLY thing that has worked (medication-wise) has been Accutane. I'm not thrilled about having to take it again, (this will be the second time), but, I'm miserable. I'm interested in finding a doctor that specializes in Grover's. Anyone know of one in the US??? Thanks.

I have also been diagnosed with Grovers (over 15 years and counting). I am in the middle of a horrendous flare up and have been told to go on drugs that are really scary. This morning I was so inflamed that I got ice packs and put them on the worst areas. OMG! This was awesome. The blisters have almost disappeared and I am no longer itching uncontrollably. And the best part is that other parts of my body where I didn't put the ice packs have calmed down. I am not cured but I am not so out of control that I'm miserable. (I've had several emotional breakdowns this week due to the uncontrollable itching) I have been doing some crazy stuff to try to stay off the drugs. I have bathed using a solution of olive oil and sea salt (stings like crazy), then put on hydrogen peroxide (I was told today that this was bad b/c HP breaks down skin but it seems to be working for me), and then used triamcinolone cream and topped with coconut oil. But the life saving thing was the ice packs on the areas that were so out of control. I live in south Florida so I am also laying out in the sun for 15 minutes on each side every day.

I first noticed evidence of Grover's disease in 2011 with spreading lesions on my torso both back and front. Visits to dermatologists in London and New York including biopsies confirmed that the lesions were caused by Grover's Disease which I was told was incurable. However, I noticed that the symptoms were far less noticeable in the summer months and guessed that sunshine and therefore Vitamin D may be effective. In 2012, I started to take 4 x Vitamin D3 (Potency 10ug = 10 micrograms equivalent to 400 IU = 400 International Units) per day.

I immediately noticed an improvement to such an extent that after some months the symptoms and the scars had completely healed. I then experimented by coming off Vitamin D3 in the summer of 2012 but after some weeks the symptoms returned. I then stayed on Vitamin D3 for six or seven months over the winter of 2012/2013 and once again the symptoms disappeared following which I stopped taking Vitamin D3 for approximately eight months with no further symptoms. However, as I write this in February 2014 the symptoms have once again returned and I have therefore re-started the Vitamin D3 which once again has suppressed the symptoms.

The conclusion to my experience is that if not a cure, Vitamin D3 in the dose that I have used is a highly effective way of treating this unpleasant and irritating disease. I hope this works for you.

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.

Hi, when and how often do you apply the nappy rash powder? Are you still taking that tablets and having rash free skin?

I don't think there is a cure per se - though I am not a doctor. I was told it just has to run its course (this of course after I got it checked out and the doctor told me it was Grover's Disease). Best remedy for the itching: Sarna lotion. It helped tremendously!! Be prepared - Grover's Disease can last for months, but does eventually go away on its own.

I too have been diagnosed with Grover's Disease. The prescription medicines don't do a thing. I have been using Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil as a moisturizer for about a week. I have also been ingesting about a teaspoon daily along with taking Borage Oil. Although the rash is still there and going strong, the itching is definitely better and my skin is getting softer and softer.

Eating it is not the most pleasant thing, but it does go own quickly. If you want you can freeze small pieces and just take like a pill.

I found another plus to the coconut oil...it increases my energy and somehow acts as a diet aid. I have lost 3 pounds in one week!

Good luck to all! Lisa

Hello Jackson,

I've had success with rashes using enzymes and sometimes herbs such as marshmallow root and papaya leaf. The enzyme best suited for therapeutic use are ones such as amylase, protease, lipase, pectinase, cellulose.

That combination helps with pH levels for me. Often I have acidic body issues and if baking soda in water isn't enough I've found the pH balancing can be done with an enzyme/ herb combo. And it doesn't seem to take much of such a formula. You can find pH enzyme formulas at health food stores. I found supplementing with enzymes helps with my"dry eye" problem but seems to help rashes and itching which is the Grover's itching you are having.

My point is this: On itching issues, could there be a base deficiency of enzymes? Not that this would be the cause in all cases. I doubt if itching caused by "ringworm" could be helped by enzymes. But I've just seen the enzyme connect play out enough so that I'm becoming really intrigued at the interplay of enzyme activity overall to proper body functioning.

Another, for instance; when I take my enzyme pill I notice I have less sinus congestion. Could the chronic congestion be related to a metabolic / digestive problem that enzymes help overcome? I use a pH balance product from Enzymedica but am sure other companies make a "pH balance" formula also.

I have Grover Skin rash and just went to the doctor yesterday, she saw that I was really flared up on my chest and stomach area. I have really struggled with this disease. I have the prescription creams and they only seem to keep it at bay. However she recommended to me to try the Virgin Coconut oil, after every shower. I am on day three of this and I know its a little early but it seems to be really helping with the itching, Also the redness is starting to go away.

Avvidore: Watch raw food videos. The80/10/10ers have recovered from everything. You can also take the best all in one formula according to Mike Adams from natural news, a 30 herb blend, mostly wild harvested from deep in the amazon jungle. A Finnish company checked the electromagnetism with a tesla scope and the energies were so high they had to recalibrate their instrument. The preperation is called sparygic. The caps are called liquizons. The owner's girl friend happens to be Olivia Newton John. She takes 3 tsp. Daily.

Avvidor, in my experience, the real Coconut Oil drastically reduces itching from any cause.

Dear Avvidor,

What have you tried other than kelp paste and hot showers? I noticed several things on the Earth Clinic page that have helped...Iododral and B-complex. I am wondering if you have tried these.

Carrot juice also comes to mind as something I would try. The high vitamin A is good for skin and it is a good detox for the body. But it can be an investment if you don't have a juicer or one you could borrow. Drinking a quart a day of carrot is doable, though you might start with less to make sure it doesn't bother you. (Like a cup a day and work up to a quart a day.) I have had a quart a day for a couple of weeks with no adverse affects.

Do keep us posted...I hope you are feeling better soon.

~Mama to Many~

Grover's Disease: I am a 78 yr old female diagnosed by biopsy....... been told that my case is severe includes back, legs and both arms. Itching is outrageous...any ideas are greatly appreciated.....even tried kelp paste and very hot showers/..nothing has been effective....derms have sent me to specialist..// at jmh..have been told there is no cure......it will go away......hope to hear from someone.....

My suggestion is to take D-Lenolate (olive leaf extract) and bathe the areas with Olive Leaf soap.

Just checked mayo clinic because they know... Duh, nothing. So it's up to us to educate them! Scotch and bourbon are the problem. Due to the damage they do to the liver. My experience is cirrhosis, fatty build up in the liver, degrading it's ability to remove sulfides. So they get passed to the intestines, which convert them to sulfuric acid. Which gets absorbed in the blood, and the body expels them in the sweat glands. So Bobs theory is Grover's is not a pathogen, no fungus, no virus. It's a chemical reaction. It's exactly like the eufedex I use on sun damaged skin. So get a blood test, check GGT level. You asked if I was clear, answer yes, and no. Spent several months with my father who passed, and I was careless and drank more. And Grover's returned. And GGT levels rose. I backed off the alcohol, Grover's is now under control. Damned, the things we do to ourselves!

So what's the easiest way--just toss them back? I only have a couple of hens, so don't get 6 eggs/day. May need more chickens. Will this help my insomnia? I'm the terrible insomniac on this forum for whom nothing works. Thanks so much for your input.

Hi again... after I posted, I thought of a few more things that might be worth a try...

Turmeric - this is great for inflammation. It is also anti-tumor. 1 t. 2-3 x a day. You could take 4 00 capsules to make 1 t. Or you could mix the powder with milk. (Some people like it that way... I don't! I mixed it with honey to get my 4 year old to take it.

Vitamin C - another thing that helps many diseases. Doctoryourself. com has lots of stories and talks about how to dose it.

Coconut Oil- read about how many things this helps here on earthclinic. You could do oil pulling or just take it internally. (1-3 T. A day... Start with 1 or 2 t. a day and work your way up.)

Let us know what helps you! ~ Mama to Many

16 eggs? Per day? Wow. Maybe you can answer my question about eggs: If I eat a raw egg, laid by my hen, it's very fresh and I'm not concerned about bacteria--I know it was clean before I cracked it because I'm the one doing the cleaning. But, how long can I hold an egg before being concerned about contamination? I know that hens can lay eggs over a week and then sit on them to hatch, so they don't automatically go bad without refrigeration. So, at what point do I say it's better not to eat it raw?

Hi Lynn Ann, That sounds miserable! I have not experienced this, but have a few thoughts about what I would try if I were in your shoes. I noticed on earth clinic's Grover's Disease page that some have found relief with iodoral. Since iodine deficiency can cause all sorts of problems, it would be something to look into. Since it seems menopause related, possibly, Evening Primrose Oil, internally, might be helpful. 1300mg gel caps daily. They help many with menopause symptoms. Apple Cider Vinegar and Blackstrap molasses help so many people with so many things, adding those to you diet wouldn't hurt and might help. 1-2 T. Of each daily. Lots of water and less sugar are also helpful to many ailments.

To help your immediate problem with itching, you could try oatmeal baths or epsom salt baths. You could also put Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) in a spray bottle and spray it on. It might sting. Try a small spot first. Or dilute 1:1 with water.

I recently made a lotion that is for anti-itch. It works really well for some tick bites that are not being helped by anything else. Here is the recipe:

Natural Anti-Itch Cream:
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons bentonite clay
1 tablespoon (approx. ) witch hazel

How to Make:

Mix sea salt, baking soda, and bentonite clay in a small bowl or jar (nothing metal with the bentonite clay). Slowly add witch hazel. Stirring constantly, until it reaches a creamy consistency. Add essential oils if using.

I added a few drops each of: peppermint, lavender, frankincense, tea tree and patchouli essential oils.

Hope you find some relief soon! Let us know what works for you!

My Grover's disease is so bad it is unbearable. I am a 55 year old woman and this started a couple of years ago - about at the onset of menopause. The disease was diagnosed by biopsy. I am considering undergoing light therapy treatment. Is there any wholistic treatment for this? I have used steroid creams & Atarax but it just will not go away. I really need help. I am itching like crazy and the rash is all over my chest, stomach and my upper & lower back. I can hardly bear it.

Hey man, still clear?? I have been suspecting bourbon and am eaten up with the rash now. Nothing has helped from the derm or the web. GO STATE!! Tom

You might add a category for Sulfites, which may be a cause. I have had Grovers for 20 years or more. And drank wine and scotch for longer. Two years ago, I stopped drinking all alcohol beverages. I have been free from the itching and pain ever since then.

This is in response to the post implicating wheat as the possible culprit to Grover's Disease. I had undiagnosed grover's sysmptoms for years when my wife and decided to go gluten free. The aggrivating itching and red bumps on my stomach, chest and back cleared up to a great degree. I was formally diagnosed with Grover's recently. I also recently fell off the wagon and consumed wheat at the direction of my Dr who was testing me for a skin problem related to Celiac Disease (Dermatitis Perfitaformis). Almost immediately my Grover's errupted. I have also recently veered from my diet and consumed wheat products with a corresponding flare in my Grovers. I really believe Grover's may be affected by wheat or even all gluten flours.