A red or brownish rash on the back or chest? Grover’s disease generally appears suddenly, particularly in adults aged 60 and over.
What is Grover’s disease?
Named Grover’s disease, name of the American dermatologist Ralph Grover, this benign non-contagious skin disease but annoying is characterized histologically by a acanthyosishence its other name acantholytic dermatosis. This affection rather rare (less than 1% of the population) mainly affects the adults and especially men around 60 years old.
What are the symptoms of Grover’s disease?
It results in erythematous, papulovesicular or papulokeratotic eruptionscolored red or brownish. She’s spreading on the torso, back, abdomen more rarely the limbs of the face. These eruptions evolve in successive outbreaks and can cause itching. Known since 1970, the clinical picture of Grover’s disease was initially described using six case observations. Ralph W. Grover noticed on the trunk of his patients papules or papulo-vesicular lesions Who regressed spontaneously within a few weeks or months.
Histological examination showed acantholytic cells, identical to those observed in the Darier’s disease (follicular dyskeratosis) and Hailey-Hailey disease (benign familial chronic pemphigus). Due to the spontaneous healing process and histological appearance, Grover termed the “transient” or “transient acantholytic dermatosis” disease. In reality, there are situations where the disease becomes chronic, with successive attacks which persist for several years.
Sun exposure can trigger breakouts
What causes Grover’s illness?
The skin lesions observed are linked acantholysis, loss of normal skin architecture. Potential triggers for flare-ups are L’Sun exposureexcessive sweating, heat and viral or bacterial infections. It is not a genetic disease strictly speaking, with the absence of observed heredity or familial cases. However, very recent analyzes have shown that the skin of patients with Grover’s disease contains acquired genetic alterations on the ATP2A2 gene, a sort of calcium pump which participates in proper cellular functioning.
Grover’s disease is in most cases a self-resolving pathology evolving favorably spontaneously. The indication for treatment results from itching that is sometimes very marked. THE topical corticosteroid creams of high activity constitute the main therapeutic options. Others possible local treatments are emollients or creams based on vitamin D. In extensive or very bothersome illnesses, the phototherapy in the cabin to the dermatologist or treatment with tablets (in particular retinoids which are derivatives of vitamin A) can be prescribed.
Can essential oils help Grover’s disease?
“Regarding the use of essential oils for relief, we do not recommend its use for Grover’s disease due to possible skin irritations or allergies“, insist dermatologists Teofila Caplanusi and Morgane Samimi.
Thanks to Doctor Teofila Caplanusi, head of the dermatology clinic at the CHUV in Lausanne (Switzerland) and Professor Morgane Samimi, dermatologist at the Tours University Hospital for their medical validations.