This is a difficult thing to experience. Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease that causes you skin to blister. It can be very mild or extremely uncomfortable. The only good thing to say about it is the condition is usually self-limiting, meaning it eventually disappears in most cases.
Until it goes, it is treated as many autoimmune illnesses are; with drugs to suppress the immune system as well as drugs to help mitigate the symptoms. Steroids, sometimes long-term low dose antibiotics, and chemo type drugs are often given to tamp down the immune response. I found a few good resources for you:
The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology has a nice little article http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/bullous_pemphigoid.html, Mayo Clinic has a section on it at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bullous-pemphigoid/DS00722/DSECTION=treatments%2Dand%2Ddrugs, and I don't know if you are aware of it, but there is an Internation Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation that you may find helpful. They have information as well as support: http://www.pemphigus.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=366&Itemid=100080.
I'm sorry you are going through this, and I hope these sites will help you. Take care and let us know how you do.
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Hi Anonymous
This is a difficult thing to experience. Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease that causes you skin to blister. It can be very mild or extremely uncomfortable. The only good thing to say about it is the condition is usually self-limiting, meaning it eventually disappears in most cases.
Until it goes, it is treated as many autoimmune illnesses are; with drugs to suppress the immune system as well as drugs to help mitigate the symptoms. Steroids, sometimes long-term low dose antibiotics, and chemo type drugs are often given to tamp down the immune response. I found a few good resources for you:
The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology has a nice little article http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/bullous_pemphigoid.html, Mayo Clinic has a section on it at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bullous-pemphigoid/DS00722/DSECTION=treatments%2Dand%2Ddrugs, and I don't know if you are aware of it, but there is an Internation Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation that you may find helpful. They have information as well as support: http://www.pemphigus.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=366&Itemid=100080.
I'm sorry you are going through this, and I hope these sites will help you. Take care and let us know how you do.
June 7, 2010 - 6:55amThis Comment
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