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Author: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, 1997. Updated September 2015.
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E-lecture
A blistering disease is a condition in which there are fluid-filled skin lesions.
Vesicles
A bulla
Crust
Acute blistering diseases can be generalised or localised to one body site and are due to infection or inflammatory disorders. Although most commonly eczematous, generalised acute blistering diseases can be life-threatening and often necessitate hospitalisation.
Acute blistering conditions should be investigated by taking swabs for bacterial and viral culture. A skin biopsy may be helpful in making a diagnosis.
Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis
Atypical enterovirus infection
Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis
Atypical enterovirus infection
Chickenpox/varicella
Discoid eczema
Eczema herpeticum
Atopic dermatitis
Stevens-Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis
Polymorphic light eruption
Erythema multiforme
Stevens-Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis
Drug hypersensitivity syndrome
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
Drug hypersensitivity syndrome
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
Acute dermatitis
Plant dermatitis
Bullous impetigo
Chilblains
Enteroviral vesicular stomatitis
Clears in a few days
Enteroviral vesicular stomatitis
Erysipelas
Fixed drug eruption
Herpes simplex
Herpes zoster
Insect bites and stings
Transient acantholytic dermatosis
Trauma
Miliaria
Transient acantholytic dermatosis
Trauma-ultraviolet radiation
Diagnosis of chronic blistering diseases often requires skin biopsy for histopathology and direct immunofluorescence. A blood test for specific antibodies (indirect immunofluorescence) may also prove helpful in making the diagnosis of an immunobullous disease.
Epidermolysis bullosa
Mastocytoma
Benign familial pemphigus
Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus
Bullous pemphigoid
Dermatitis herpetiformis
Other immunobullous diseases
Pemphigoid gestationis
Pemphigus vulgaris
Porphyria cutanea tarda
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