Dear Dr. Gott: I am a 90-year-old retired dentist. Until a few weeks ago, I was very healthy and active. Then, I was suddenly struck by a very itchy body. I developed a rash and was diagnosed with Grover's disease.

Do you know of any treatments or cures for this condition? It is driving me crazy.

Reply: Grover's disease is a skin disorder that appears suddenly. It most commonly affects middle-aged white men but has been seen in children, women and people of various ethnicities.

Grover's disease generally begins as an eruption of itchy red-brown papules on the skin of the chest, upper back and lower rib cage. There are usually numerous lesions, but they are small and discrete. Severe cases may reveal papules on the neck, shoulders, arms and legs.

In some cases, the lesions may resemble those of other dermatologic conditions, so it is important to be seen by a dermatologist who can take a biopsy to confirm or deny the diagnosis, since the affected skin has a very distinctive appearance under a microscope.

The condition is generally accepted to be benign and self-limiting, meaning it runs its course and then disappears. Most cases last six to 12 months and then resolve; however, some people may have more persistent cases that last substantially longer. Grover's disease may be difficult to manage in some people.

Treatment usually begins with the use of topical corticosteroids, such as prescription hydrocortisone cream, that works by reducing inflammation and itching. Other options include menthol or pramoxine lotions (anaesthetic creams to reducing itching and pain), retinoids (vitamin A), oral corticosteroids, methotrexate and PUVA (ultraviolet A phototherapy) or ultraviolet-B exposure.

It is also important to avoid excessive heat and sweating, as both may worsen symptoms.

You should be under the care of a dermatologist. I urge you to return to your primary-care physician to request a referral to a skin specialist who is familiar with the disease.

If you are already seeing such a specialist, make a follow-up appointment to discuss treatment options that may give you some relief.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report 'Medical Specialists'.

Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped number 10 envelope and a cheque or money order for $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Dear Dr. Gott: My husband had Parkinson's disease. While living in a nursing home, it was suggested that he try nicotine patches because his legs would shake terribly.

Once on the patches (he used the lowest dose available), the shaking stopped immediately. Insurance wouldn't cover the cost, but it was worth it to see his quality of life improved.

Reply: I have read other reports stating that nicotine patches can reduce the shaking for Parkinson's patients.

Further research is necessary. Not enough time has passed to know how long the treatment will work, whether its effectiveness wears off or whether higher doses must be used over time.

I suggest any Parkinson's sufferer or caregiver interested in learning more about this topic speak with a neurologist.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report 'Parkinson's Disease'.

Other readers who would like a copy should write to the address above. Be sure to mention the title.

Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of 'Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet' and 'Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook'. Contact him c/o United Media, 200 Madison Avenue, fourth floor, New York, New York 10016.