‘Pemphigus’ an auto immune skin disease, not an allergy: Experts

Panchkula: Recently a patient has been admitted in Alchemist Hospital with a rare group of skin blistering disease named Pemphigus vulgaris which is a rare skin disorder caused due to autoimmune disorder of immune system. The disease covered 90% body surface area of the patient. He has oral ulcers and blisters all over his body.  With the help of Skin biopsy, patient’s diagnosis was confirmed. Dr Kalyani Bhola, Dermatologist Alchemist Hospital started his treatment and patient was discharged after seven days in good condition. 

Dr Kalyani Bhola said that an autoimmune disorder can affect a variety of organs, joints and muscles, or other bodily tissues. One tissue that’s commonly affected by autoimmune disorders is the skin.

She said that, normally, when harmful viruses and bacteria invade in our body then our immune system senses these foreign invaders and attacks such harmful viruses and bacteria. But in cases of over activity of immune system our body cannot differentiate between healthy cells and harmful bacteria and attacks and damages its own healthy tissues. This is called autoimmune disease.

She further told that there are many different types of skin-related autoimmune disorders and Pemphigus is one of them. Pemphigus is a rare group of skin blistering disorders related to auto immunity which means patient’s own antibodies are reacting against normal skin to form this disease. Sometimes patient may require hospitalization if disease is widespread to control the disease which can be life threatening if not treated on time, added Dr Kalyani Bhola.

In this disease, patient can have large blisters over skin with sometimes involving mouth, nose, throat, eyes, and genitals. The scalp, face, neck and upper parts of the chest and back are most oftenly affected. Pemphigus isn’t an infectious disease and it can be treated with medications. It is not caused by any kind of allergy with food or water.

Although causes of the immune system misfire are not known yet some people are more likely to get an autoimmune disease than others. Researchers believe that modification of Life style including less physical activity with increased intake of fat, sugar, and highly processed foods along with some environmental factors are linked to inflammation, which might set off an immune response. However it has not been proven. Moreover children today aren’t exposed to as many germs as they were in the past because of vaccines and antiseptics. The lack of exposure could make their immune system overreact to harmless substances.