Bullous pemphigoid is a skin disorder which has blistering eruptions on the surface of the skin. The condition is caused by antibodies and inflammation abnormally accumulating in a certain layer of the skin or mucous membranes. A majority of cases of Bullous pemphigoid occur in people 50 years of age or older. While the cause is unknown, it is felt by some that an aging immune system may become activated in certain individuals to develop Bullous pemphigoid. The blisters in Bullous Pemphigoid are large and can occur anywhere on the skin but are more common on the skin folds such as the groin and armpits. Bullous pemphigoid can also involve the mouth. This disease is not a fatal disease and ca be cured easily.

Causes

Antibodies can be detected circulating in the blood of the patient of bullous pemphigoid.

The side-effects due to some medicines - like furosemide, sulphasalazine, penicillins, and captopril may lead to formation of bullous pemphigoid.

Anaemia, rheumatoid arthritis, and vitiligo are also one of the main causes of bullous pemphigoid.

Some viruses, infection, spending a lot of time in sunlight, or other factors can also lead to the condition of bullous pemphigoid.

Symptoms

Symptoms of bullous pemphigoid include intense itching and burning sensation of the skin. When the mucous membranes of the mouth are affected, it causes pain, burning, and sensitivity to acidic foods. Eating can be difficult, and involvement in the deeper areas of the throat can cause coughing. One may also develop a rash and suffer from blisters in the mouth or the throat.

Treatment

Bullous pemphigoid can be chronic and mild without affecting the general health of affected individuals. Treatment of bullous pemphigoid can resolve with topical cortisone creams but sometimes requires high doses of steroids which need to be taken internally. Severe bullous pemphigoid can also require immune-suppression medication such as azathioprine. Other treatments that have been used for this disease include intravenous immunoglobulin infusions which need to be given monthly.