What is Bullous Pemphigoid
Bullous pemphigoid is a skin disease that causes blisters to form. It ranges in severity and can last for a long time. The disease can come back months or years after it goes away.
What are the causes?
The cause of this condition is not known. Certain medicines and conditions, such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis, may be causes. Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s own defense system (immune system) attacks the body.
What increases the risk?
This condition is more likely to develop in people over the age of 50.
What are the signs or symptoms?
This condition causes blisters to form on the skin. In mild cases, only a few small blisters form. In severe cases, many large blisters form in several areas of the body. The most common places blisters form are the groin, armpits, trunk, thighs, and forearms. About one third of people with this condition develop blisters in the mouth. The blisters may break open, forming ulcers.
Other symptoms of this condition include:
- Redness.
- Irritation.
- Itching.
- Bleeding gums.
- Difficulty eating.
- Cough.
- Pain with swallowing.
- Nosebleeds.
In most people, the symptoms of bullous pemphigoid go away within 5 years.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition may be diagnosed with a physical exam and blood tests. A procedure in which a skin sample is taken for testing (skin biopsy) may be done to confirm the diagnosis.
How is this treated?
This condition may be managed with medicines, such as:
- Antibiotic medicines.
- Steroid medicines. These may be applied to the skin, taken by mouth, or given as injections.
- Medicines that suppress the immune system.
If the mouth or lips are affected, a change in diet may also be recommended. People with severe symptoms may need to be treated at a hospital, where they may receive:
- Care for their ulcers.
- Medicines given through an IV tube.
- Feedings given through an IV tube. This may be done if the mouth or lips are affected.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
- Keep your skin clean.
- Do notscratch, break, or drain your blisters. Doing so can cause them to become infected.
- Follow your health care provider’s instructions about bandage (dressing) changes and removal.
- If
your mouth or lips are affected:
- Eat a diet made up of soft foods and liquids only.
- Avoid drinking very hot liquids.
Contact a health care provider if:
- Your itching or pain is not helped by medicine.
- You develop redness, swelling, or pain that extends beyond your blisters or ulcers.
- There is pus coming from a blister or ulcer.
- You have a fever.
- You have confusion.
- You feel unusually tired or weak.
Get help right away if:
- Your pain becomes severe.
- You cannot eat or drink because of blisters, ulcers, or pain in your lips or mouth.
- You cannot care for yourself because of blisters, ulcers, or pain in your hands or in the soles of your feet.
