The immune system produces antibodies. These cause the skin and mucus membranes to break out in blisters and burn-like sores. What causes the body to attack itself is not known. Sometimes a drug can cause symptoms.
Factors that increase your chance for pemphigus include:
- Family members with pemphigus
-
A history of having autoimmune diseases, such as
myasthenia gravis
,
lupus
, or thymoma
- Age: middle to late adulthood
- Jewish or Mediterranean descent
-
Regular use of certain drugs, including: