Replied by Melanie from Katy TX on 10/25/2022

After seeing six doctors over a period of several months, a biopsy finally confirmed my Grover's Disease in August, 2022. My treatments have included topical and oral steroids and just about everything I've found on this site. I am currently receiving Narrow Band UVB light treatments twice a week and using topical steroids on a limited basis. I am also drinking the cilantro smoothies daily. I have been inconsistent in drinking them, but have started back to daily consumption.

I lost my precious husband in September of 2021 to pancreatic cancer and have been under a tremendous amount of stress during his illness, his death, and in dealing with his loss. I'm sure that stress has contributed to my skin issues. I am a 71 year old female who has never felt, looked or acted old till now!! This disease has aged me in that I have become depressed (of course mostly because of losing my husband), inactive, and unenthusiastic about life in general. Exercise has been difficult in general because if I sweat at all, I itch and breakout. My lesions have cleared up quite a bit, but the itching is ever-present and interferes with my daily life. Hydroxyzine relieves the itching, but makes me very sleepy, so I am hesitant to take it.

Now to the point of this message, my questions:

• Has anyone taken/had success with Rinvoq (an oral medication)?
• Had anyone had good results with light treatments?
• Has anyone seen a correlation between alcohol use and GD? Do I need to give up my two nightly martinis?

I wish you all luck with this unbelievably irritating (and sometimes debilitating) disease!

Replied by Muriel from CA on 04/01/2023

Melanie, I so wish to express my condolences with the loss of your husband as truly the lossof loved ones is the most difficult pain with which to cope. Sadly too as this stress along with the related obligations no doubt suppresses the immune system.

I am of no help in regard to your questions, but could not let this day pass without offering my concern for your continued resolutions as we all have a plethora of challenges with which to cope.

As this is not site for faith strengtheing

Replied by Elizabeth from CA on 05/31/2023

Melanie, you and I have a similar story. I am 64, and lost my beloved husband of 35 years to pancreatic cancer five years ago. The stress with it all was horrific, and then I had to sell my home and move. My Grover's disease started in April of 2022, after two vaccines and one booster (I have felt all along there was a connection here). I have tried traditional medical treatments including topical, injected and oral steroids, cyclosporine and Doxepin with no relief and horrible side effects, necessitating even more medications (high blood pressure, skin thinning, bone density loss, and becoming immune compromised). Not to mention the sleep loss and all that entails from the relentless itching and burning pain. I can't believe I stumbled on this site, while doing my weekly hours of searching for information about this awful and debilitating disease. Thank God I am not crazy, and there are other people out there with similar stories. I went to the health food store today and bought ingredients for cilantro smoothies, some unrefined organic coconut oil to try topically, and a cilantro tincture. Will keep everyone posted!

Replied by Less from France on 12/27/2025

Merci pour vos témoignages positifs!

Je m’apprête à faire une cure de coriandre. Comme je n’aime pas les smoothies je vais manger la coriandre nature, j’imagine que c’est tout aussi bien…

Niveau quantité il faut manger environ une demi botte par jour c’est juste?

je vous tiendrai informée, en croisant les doigts pour que cela fonctionne!

Merci encore!

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Thank you for your positive testimonials!

I'm about to start a cilantro cleanse. Since I don't like smoothies, I'm going to eat the cilantro plain; I imagine that's just as good...

Regarding the quantity, I need to eat about half a bunch a day, is that right?

I'll keep you updated, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works!

Thanks again.