Understanding Bullous Pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid is a rare and long-term (chronic) autoimmune skin disease. It is more common in people ages 60 and older. It causes large blisters to form. These blisters may be on one part of the body or all over. They often appear on the arms, legs, groin, chest, and stomach. Sores may sometimes occur in the mouth, too.

Front view of male head and chest showing bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid on light skin.

Bullous pemphigoid on dark skin.

How to say it

BUHL-uhs PEHM-fih-goyd

What causes bullous pemphigoid?

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease. That’s when the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body. In this case, it attacks the proteins that join the skin cells to one another. The disease may also be triggered by some medicines, such as penicillin and furosemide. Burns from sun, heat, or radiation can also trigger the disease.

What are the symptoms of bullous pemphigoid?

Bullous pemphigoid may be red and itchy at first. It may look like hives or a rash. Large, firm blisters may then form. These blisters are often filled with a clear liquid. They may feel very itchy. The blisters may pop. But they usually don’t leave any scars.

How is bullous pemphigoid treated?

The blisters from this skin disease may go away and come back. So treatment is often needed for a few years. Treatment options include:

Skin care. Using mild soap and anti-itch creams may help with symptoms.
Steroids. Steroids are the main treatment option for this disease. They may be creams or ointments that you put on your skin. Or they may be in pill or liquid form (oral). They can ease itching and stop new blisters from forming. If you take oral steroids for a long time, you may also need medicines to prevent side effects from the steroids.
Antibiotics. You may need antibiotics to prevent or treat infection.