Bullous pemphigoid
If you've been diagnosed with bullous pemphigoid, you'll probably be referred to a dermatologist (skin specialist) for treatment.
The aim of treatment is to stop new blisters forming and heal the blisters that are already there.
Your specialist may prescribe quite powerful medication with potentially severe side effects, so the smallest possible dose is used to minimise this.
You'll usually be prescribed corticosteroids (either tablets or cream), sometimes alongside "steroid-sparing" medication that allows doctors to reduce the dose of steroids.You may also be prescribed an antibiotic.
Corticosteroids,or steroids, are an anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed for a wide range of conditions.
If the affected area of skin is only small, you may be prescribed steroid cream to rub into the area. For larger areas of blisters, you may be given steroid tablets.
If the blisters are severe, you may be given a high dose to start with to get the condition under control and stop the blisters appearing. This may take several weeks.
The dose is thengradually reduced, and you'll either come off the steroids or be kept on a low dose for a long time.
To use the lowest possible effective dose of steroids, your doctor may give you "steroid-sparing" medicine to take alongside, which is described below.
These work by suppressing your production of antibodies.
The idea is that side effects will be less troublesome if low doses of two different tablets (steroids and immunosuppressants)are used instead of one high dose of steroids. This is known as steroid sparing.
Blisters should be left intact, if possible, to reduce your risk of infection.
However, if they're particularly large and in a difficult placesuch as the sole of your foot they may be carefully pierced with a sterile needle to release the fluid. Theskin of the blister should be left.
If blisters do break, they heal quickly.
Bullous pemphigoid is a skin condition that causes a rash and itchy blisters. It usually affects people aged over 70.
Bullous pemphigoid typically starts with a red, itchy rash that looks a bit likedermatitis(a type of eczema)or Welts . This tends to last several weeks or months. Groups of large, itchyblisters usual
The condition is usuallyseen in older people aged over 70. Rarely, it can affect children and younger adults. Bullous pemphigoid is alsoslightly more common in women than men.
Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune condition, which means the immune system attacks the body's own tissues and organs. The person's immune system produces antibodies against the skin. These antibodi
Your GP may suspect bullous pemphigoid just by looking at your skin. The diagnosis is then confirmed by taking a small sample of your affected skin (biopsy) and sending it to a laboratory to be insp
If you've been diagnosed with bullous pemphigoid, you'll probably be referred to a dermatologist (skin specialist) for treatment. The aim of treatment is to stop new blisters forming and heal the bli
It's not possible to cure the condition with treatment, but it usually goes away on its ownwithin five to sixyears. In the meantime, medication is effective in keeping the blisters under control. Reg
If you have bullous pemphigoid, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scientists look f