skin disorders
Pemphigus Vulgaris
Introduction
Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare, severe autoimmune disorder in which blisters of varying sizes break out on the skin and on the lining of the mouth and other mucous membranes. Pemphigus vulgaris occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks proteins in the upper layers of the skin. People have severe blistering in the mouth and on other areas of the body, and sometimes sheets of skin peel off. Doctors can diagnose pemphigus vulgaris by examining skin samples under a microscope. Treatment usually involves corticosteroids or drugs that suppress the immune system. Pemphigus develops most often in middle-aged or older people, affecting equal numbers of men and women. It rarely develops in children. The body's Overview of the Immune System makes special cells that protect the body against harmful foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. Some of these cells respond to invaders by producing proteins called antibodies. (See also Overview of Blistering Disorders .) 