General Information About Bullous Pemphigoid
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a chronic skin disease where large, tense, water-filled blisters form on the skin as a result of the body's defense cells attacking the proteins that hold the layers of its own skin together.
The disease usually appears in older adults over the age of 60. It is quite rare for it to be seen in children and younger adults.
The disease begins with eczema-like redness and severe itching weeks before the blisters appear. Later, tense fluid collections (bullae) that are hard to pop occur on the arms, legs, and abdomen.
Absolutely not. Since bullous pemphigoid is not caused by an infection (germs), it is not transmitted from person to person through touching or sharing the same items.
A small piece is taken from the lesioned skin by a dermatology specialist (biopsy), and a definitive diagnosis is made in the laboratory using a special staining technique called Direct Immunofluorescence (DIF) to detect autoantibodies under the skin.
Depending on the severity of the disease, creams containing high doses of cortisone (steroid) or oral cortisone pills are started. In long-term treatment, other immune-regulating drugs (immunosuppressants) are added to the treatment to reduce the side effects of cortisone.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
