Blistering Skin Disorders

Home » Blistering Skin Disorders » Pemphigoid

Overview

Bullous (meaning "related to blisters") pemphigoid is a blistering disease that is seen most commonly in elderly persons. Unlike pemphigus, where loose and broken blisters are seen, pemphigoid produces large, tense blisters of the skin and, rarely, the mucous membranes. Blisters form when the patient's own antibodies (immune proteins) attack a specific layer in the skin, causing a separation between layers where fluid accumulates. In pemphigoid, this separation occurs between deeper layers of the skin, and, as a result, the blisters are stronger and don't break as easily.

Cause

Most cases of pemphigoid occur without a known inciting cause.

Signs and Symptoms

The skin blisters of pemphigoid are characteristically large and tense. They usually are seen on top of reddened skin and commonly appear on the abdomen, thighs, and forearms. Mucous membrane involvement is seen in fewer than one-third of patients.

Diagnosis

The clinical presentation of pemphigoid can be quite distinct. Laboratory confirmation is obtained by skin biopsy for routine pathological examination and for specialized immunofluorescence, a procedure that identifies which of the patient's antibodies is present in the skin, thus distinguishing it from other blistering diseases.

Treatment

Localized areas can be treated with topical corticosteroids alone. With extensive disease, oral corticosteroids are used, sometimes with the addition of other immune-suppressing drugs. Some studies report successful treatment using the antibiotic tetracycline and the vitamin nicotinamide (niacinamide, a B complex vitamin).

Prognosis

Pemphigoid is often self-limiting and may resolve within months, or it may last years.

© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Blistering Skin Disorders Resources

	Join Our Blistering Disorders Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer