Blistering Skin Disorders

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Overview

Pemphigus of the skin and mucous membranes is a chronic blistering disease most commonly found in middle-aged persons.

There are three major types of pemphigus:

• Vulgaris (literally meaning common)
  
• Foliaceus (featuring superficial blisters)
  
• Paraneoplastic (associated with some cancers)
  

Pemphigus is an autoimmune disorder in which the skin cells are attacked by the patient's own antibodies (immune proteins). This causes a separation between the layers of skin in which fluid subsequently accumulates, producing blisters. The introduction of corticosteroids in recent decades has turned what often had been a fatal disease into one that can be managed quite well.

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