Grovers disease is a fairly common ailment, primarily occurring in men over 50. While it is generally not serious, it can make those affected seriously uncomfortable. If you are one of the many people who suffer from the symptoms of Grovers disease, there is no need to live with the discomfort. You can get relief fairly easily with a range of topical medications. The first step, as with any illness, is to consult with your doctor and get a definitive diagnosis.
A skin irritation of unknown cause, Grovers generally causes a series of small, round, red growths on the mid-chest and back. Occasionally, the growths will also occur on the thighs and arms. While the growths are not dangerous, they can be extremely itchy. While Grovers disease treatments do exist, there is no known cure. It will usually run its course in six to twelve months, but it can reoccur, sometimes seasonally.
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Once your doctor has definitively diagnosed Grovers disease, you can begin treatment with any of several methods. Minor cases can usually be treated with a topical corticosteroid or cortisone cream. These medicines will both reduce inflammation and ease itching, however they shouldn't be applied too liberally as excess moisture can exacerbate symptoms. If these methods don't work, your doctor can prescribe accutane or tetracycline pills. Taken over a course of one to three months, these pills will attack the rash from the inside out, causing it to dry out and fade.
If lesser treatment options are not successful, or for more serious cases, your doctor may decide to use UVB phototherapy. While it can be effective in some cases, phototherapy is one of the more rarely used Grovers disease treatments. As many Grovers patients also suffer from extreme sun exposure, phototherapy can cause further damage. For this reason, most doctors will use this particular treatment sparingly.
Other treatments for Grovers disease include antifungal pills and cortisone shots. While the cause of Grovers is not known, most illness resulting in a rash are fungal in origin, thus the use of antifungal pills can help to clear the rash and ease itching. Cortisone is a strong anti-itch medication which is usually effective when applied topically, but in severe cases it may be necessary to introduce cortisone directly into the bloodstream to fight itching and irritation.
One of the most important Grovers disease treatments is to keep the skin dry and avoid any activity which may cause you to sweat. Sweating usually further irritates affected skin and could result in complications such as developing dermatitis. While sweating is known to exacerbate Grovers, it is also more common for patients to experience outbreaks in the winter, rather than the warmer summer months. The reason for this is not known, but it could have to do with sensitivity to temperature extremes of any kind.
As with any illness, the most important step in treating Grovers disease is to see your doctor. Rashes can be caused by many different ailments and it is extremely important that you know exactly what you are dealing with before you try to treat any rash. Once your doctor has diagnosed Grovers, you can begin a course of treatment and you will be better equipped to recognize the symptoms and avoid any complications in the future.
Though it can be frustrating and uncomfortable, Grovers disease does not have to stop you from leading a full, enjoyable life. See your doctor at the first sign of itching or rash and find out which treatments will work best for you. Before you know it, you'll be looking and feeling better and living every day of your life itch free!
Grovers Disease Can Be Treated With Various Protocols Depending On The Severity Of The Condition
Scott LeRoy has been researching and analyzing dermatological applications and treatments for many years. He is a regular contributor to Skin Diseases, a section of Skin Site dedicated to conventional and alternative treatments of various conditions.