Pemphigus Summary Pemphigus is an autoimmune disorder. If you have it, your immune system attacks healthy cells in your skin and mouth, causing blisters and sores. No one knows the cause. Pemphigus does not spread from person to person. It does not appear to be inherited. But some people’s genes put them more at risk for pemphigus. Pemphigoid is also an autoimmune skin disease. It leads to deep blisters that do not break easily. Pemphigoid is most common in older adults and may be fatal for older, sick patients. Doctors diagnose pemphigus with a physical exam, a biopsy, and blood tests. The treatment of pemphigus and pemphigoid is the same: one or more medicines to control symptoms. These may include Steroids, which reduce inflammation Drugs that suppress the immune system response Antibiotics to treat associated infections NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Find an Expert American Academy of Dermatology American Academy of Dermatology Find a Dermatologist American Academy of Dermatology National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Array Bullous pemphigoid Pemphigus vulgaris Specifics Bullous Pemphigoid American Osteopathic College of Dermatology Cicatricial Pemphigoid American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Hailey-Hailey Disease (Benign Chronic Pemphigus) American Osteopathic College of Dermatology Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Pemphigoid, Bullous National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Pemphigus National Institutes of Health Genetics Genetics Home Reference: benign chronic pemphigus National Library of Medicine Encyclopedia Nikolsky sign Start Here Pemphigus National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Pemphigus Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research What Is Pemphigus? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Images Pemphigus Vulgaris Logical Images Journal Articles Pemphigus Diagnosis and Tests Tips for Getting a Proper Diagnosis of an Autoimmune Disease American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association