Bullous pemphigoid
Overview
Bullous pemphigoid is a rare skin condition that mainly affects people over the age of 60. It may last a few years and can be serious, but treatment helps.
Symptoms
Bullous pemphigoid usually starts with an itchy, raised rash on the skin, usually the backs of the knees, insides of the armpits and elbows, hands, feet or tummy. Some people may also get blisters in their mouth, which can causeproblems swallowing (dysphagia). Not everyone gets blisters. If you do, they may keep coming and going for months or years. Bullous pemphigoid eventually goes away on its own.
Causes
Bullous pemphigoid is caused by a problem with the immune system, the body's defence against infection. Instead of attacking germs, it attacks and damages the skin. It's not always clear why this happens, although certain things may trigger it. These include: certain medicinessunburnsurgeryburns
Treatment
If a GP thinks you have bullous pemphigoid, they may refer you to a specialist for tests and treatment. The main treatments for bullous pemphigoid are: steroid creamssteroid tabletsantibiotics Treatment can help your skin heal, stop new patches or blisters appearing, and lower the chances of your skin getting infected. Your skin should eventually heal without scarring, but it might be a bit darker than it was before. Do not burst your blisters yourself unless you have been shown how to by a nurse. Your skin might get infected.