Autoimmune Blistering Diseases
A blister, or bulla, is a bubble of fluid that normally forms beneath a thin layer of damaged skin. The fluid inside it is composed of water and protein that have oozed from the damaged tissue. Blisters typically form as a result of a rubbing irritation or a burn and involve only the top layer of the skin, or epidermis. They may also be symptoms of a bacterial or viral infection. Such blisters usually resolve in a short period of time and do not result in complications or scarring.
When patients suffer from an autoimmune blistering disease, however, the blisters are larger and cover a more widespread area. They may even be systemic, covering much of the body. Caused by an inflammation deeper under the surface of the skin, these blisters last considerably longer, may result in life-threatening complications, and often leave scarring.
Causes of Autoimmune Blistering Diseases
Autoimmune blistering diseases are a group of disorders in which the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. Like other autoimmune disorders, their precise causes are unknown, although there does seem to be a connection between autoimmune and allergic responses. In autoimmune blistering diseases, the skin and mucous membranes are the primary targets.
Symptoms of Autoimmune Blistering Diseases
Apart from the blisters themselves, autoimmune blistering disease result in other symptoms, such as rashes, pain, red or itchy patches of skin, sores on the mucous membranes, or areas of swelling.
Types of Autoimmune Blistering Diseases
There are many different types of autoimmune blistering diseases. Some of the more familiar ones are:
- Contact dermatitis
- Impetigo
- Scleroderma
- Psoriasis
Less common autoimmune blistering diseases, some of which affect muscles or other parts of the body as well, include
- Bullous pemphigoid
- Erythema
- Erythroderma
- Pemphigoid
- Pemphigus
- Epidermolysis bullosa
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Pemphigus vulgaris
Treatment of of Autoimmune Blistering Diseases
Treatment of blistering diseases varies depending on the nature and severity of the condition. Generally speaking, such treatment is engineered to relieve symptoms and reduce inflammation, usually through the application of topical steroids or the administration of immunosuppressant medications. Antibiotics may also be employed prophylactically or to treat existing bacterial infections. While there is no cure for autoimmune blistering diseases, many can be well-controlled with medication and many resolve on their own after a few years.