What is pemphigus foliaceus?
Pemphigus foliaceus Pemphigus is a disease that causes blisters and sores on the skin or mucous membranes, such as in the mouth or on the genitals. Pemphigus can occur at any age, but it’s most often seen in people who are middle-aged or older.
What causes pemphigus foliaceus?
What causes pemphigus foliaceus? Pemphigus foliaceus occurs when cells of the body’s immune system produce proteins (autoantibodies) that damage the adhesion points between skin cells. These adhesion points act like press studs holding one of the top layers of the skin cells (epidermis) together.
What are the symptoms of pemphigus foliaceus?
Symptoms of PF include:
- Small fluid-filled skin blisters that typically begin on the face, scalp, or trunk.
- Ruptured blisters that cause sores, pockets, or scars in the skin.
- Scaly, inflamed, painful patches on the skin.
- Burning, pain, and itching at the site of the blisters.
How is pemphigus foliaceus treated?
Topical treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids, such as topical clobetasol cream or ointment 0.05% twice a day, is helpful. Other vehicles that may be useful are creams, foams, liquids (for scalp lesions), and aerosols. Antibiotics, such as minocycline 50 mg daily, may be effective.
What does Foliaceus mean?
: of, relating to, or resembling an ordinary green leaf as distinguished from a modified leaf (such as a petal, bract, or scale)
Does pemphigus foliaceus go away?
Some people get better without treatment. Others may live with the disease for many years. You might need to take medicine for years to prevent the blisters from coming back. If a medication caused pemphigus foliaceus, stopping the drug can often clear up the disease.
How does pemphigus start?
Pemphigus vulgaris is not fully understood. Experts believe that it’s triggered when a person who has a genetic tendency to get this condition comes into contact with an environmental trigger, such as a chemical or a drug. In some cases, pemphigus vulgaris will go away once the trigger is removed.
Can pemphigus be cured?
There’s currently no cure for pemphigus vulgaris (PV), but treatment can help keep the symptoms under control. The main aim of treatment is to heal the blisters and prevent new ones forming. Steroid medication (corticosteroids) plus another immunosuppressant medication are usually recommended.
What does pemphigus look like?
Pemphigus affects the outer of the skin (epidermis) and causes lesions and blisters that are easily ruptured. Pemphigoid affects a lower layer of the skin, between the epidermis and the dermis, creating tense blisters that do not break easily. Sometimes pemphigoid may look like hives or eczema without blisters.
Can pemphigus go away?
In some cases, pemphigus vulgaris will go away once the trigger is removed. The condition causes the immune system to fight against the body’s own cells in the same way that it fights off invading germs.