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Article: Pemphigoid brings vexing skin blisters
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- February 8, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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Q. An older relative has been told she has pemphigoid. I have
read that this is a form of skin cancer. Is that true? Would
prednisone help in treating the illness? Is pemphigoid dangerous?
A. Pemphyx is a Greek word for blister. Pemphigoid is not skin
cancer, but a vexing problem in which the skin blisters for no
apparent reason. A similar, but much rarer and far more serious
variant of this is pemphigus, which I'll return to later.
Your relative has pemphigoid. The blisters appear suddenly out
of nowhere. They usually itch. Eventually, the blisters break and
then heal without scarring. Although troublesome, pemphigoid is not
lethal, and it is effectively controlled with cortisone ...