Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Bullous Pemphigoid
Bullous Pemphigoid
Elsevier Patient Education © 2023 Elsevier Inc..
Last revised: October 6, 2023.
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.
Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s own disease-fighting system (immune system) attacks the body.
What are the causes?
The cause of this condition is not known. Certain medicines and conditions, such as psoriasis, lichen planus, and multiple sclerosis, have been associated with bullous pemphigoid.
What increases the risk?
This condition is more likely to develop in people over the age of 60.
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, torso, thighs, and forearms. Some people develop blisters in the mouth. The blisters may break open, forming ulcers.
Other symptoms of this condition include:
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Redness.
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Irritation.
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Itchiness.
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Bleeding gums.
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Difficulty eating.
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Cough.
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Pain with swallowing.
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Nosebleeds.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition may be diagnosed with a physical exam and blood tests. You may have a skin sample removed for testing (skin biopsy) to confirm diagnosis. You may work with a health care provider who specializes in skin care (dermatologist).
How is this treated?
This condition may be managed with medicines, such as:
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Antibiotic medicines to prevent infection.
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Steroid medicines to reduce inflammation. These may be applied to the skin (topical), taken by mouth (oral), or given as injections.
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Medicines that reduce the activity of (suppress) the immune system.
If your mouth or lips are affected, your health care provider may recommend changing your diet while you are having symptoms.
If your symptoms are severe, you may need to be treated at the hospital. Treatment at the hospital may include:
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Treatment for ulcers.
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IV medicines.
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IV nutrition, if your mouth or lips are affected.
Follow these instructions at home:
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Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
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Keep your skin clean.
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Do not scratch, pop, or drain your blisters. Doing so can lead to infection.
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Cover blisters or ulcers with clean bandages until they heal. Change the bandages once a day or as often as recommended by your health care provider.
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If you have blisters or ulcers in your mouth or lips:
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Try only drinking liquids or only eating soft foods to help relieve discomfort while eating.
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Avoid drinking very hot liquids.
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Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if you:
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Have pain or itchiness that does not get better with medicine.
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Develop redness, swelling, or pain that spreads away from your blisters or ulcers.
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Have pus coming from a blister or ulcer.
Get help right away if you:
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Have a fever.
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Become confused.
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Have severe pain.
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Feel unusually tired or weak.
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Cannot eat or drink because of blisters, ulcers, or pain in your lips or mouth.
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Cannot care for yourself because of blisters, ulcers, or pain in your hands or in the soles of your feet.
Summary
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Bullous pemphigoid is a skin disease that causes blisters to form.
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This an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s own disease-fighting system (immune system) attacks the body.
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This condition can be treated with medicines. In some cases, you may need treatment at a hospital.
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Do not scratch, pop, or drain your blisters.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
