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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
The primary feature of bullous pemphigoid is the appearance of blisters. Characteristics of the blisters include the following:
- Blisters are large, filled with fluid and don't easily rupture when touched.
- Fluid inside the blisters is usually clear but may contain some blood.
- Skin around the blisters may appear normal, reddish in people with light skin color or darker than normal in people with dark skin color.
- Blisters can appear anywhere on the body, but they are most often on the abdomen, groin, inner thighs and arms. Blisters are often located along creases or folds in the skin, such as the skin on the inner side of a joint.
- The site of a ruptured blister may be painful or sensitive.
Others symptoms include:
- Hives. Raised, red or dark patches of swollen skin (hives) may appear before the development of blisters. In some cases, hives may be the only skin lesion to develop.
- Itching. The affected areas of skin are usually very itchy.
- Mouth sores. You may develop blisters or sores in the mouth and, rarely, on other mucous membranes.
When to see a doctor
If you develop unexplained blistering, hives, itching or other skin irritation — a condition not caused, for example, by a known skin allergy or contact with poison ivy — see your doctor. Because a number of conditions can cause signs and symptoms affecting your skin, it's important to get a prompt, accurate diagnosis and appropriate care.
- Bullous pemphigoid. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch112/ch112b.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Goldstein BG, et al. Bullous pemphigoid and other pemphigoid disorders. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 15, 2010.
- Stanley J. Bullous pemphigoid. In: Wolff K, et al., eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2950538. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Kirtschig G, et al. Management of bullous pemphigoid: Recommendations for immunomodulatory treatments. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2004;5:319.
- Patton T, et al. Bullous pemphigoid treatment review. Expert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy. 2006;7:2403.
- Glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/gi-osteoporosis.asp. Accessed April 15, 2010.
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