Pemphigus Vulgaris

Question: Is there any treatment for the skin disease Pemphigus Vulgaris? How can pain from the blisters be mitigated? I have been suffering from this disease for the last 5 years. The blisters come in all seasons. Sometimes they will come one after the other. Sometimes there will be a gap of one to two months. At a time two to three may also be there. They come mostly on the legs, thighs, buttocks and around the genital organ. It starts as a small tip, grows further until it bursts when puss and blood come out. Scars are left at the place. The blisters irritate me and interefere with my daily activities as the pain until they are cleared becomes unberable. The skin specialist whom I consulted said there is no cure and there is no medicine even for the pain. I take pain killers with the risk of the side effects involved. Is not there any treatment for this diseaase? Is there any traditional method of mitigating the pain from the blisters apart from taking antibiotics/pain killers? Experts in skin diseases or those who suffer from the same disease may please help me by sharing their knowledge/views.

Answer: I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering. Since Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease, any treatment that supresses the over response of your immune system will improve your symptoms. Following a macrobiotic diet will signifigantly improve your immune function and it's simple to try. I've suffered for years myself with autoimmune issues untill i started following this diet and I am healthier than i ever have been. Conventional medicine is often nothing but a mask for symptoms, but lifestyle change gets at the cause of the problem. Good luck

Question: I am looking for either conventional or herbal treatments for Pemphigus vulgaris? I would like to know if there is perhaps a diet that would help improve the issue or avoid because it might agitate the condition.

Answer: http://www.naturopathic.org/AF_MemberDir… a doctor in ur area on this site

Question: What is the permanent remedy for the auto immune skin disease of Pemphigus Vulgaris?

Answer: Treatment for pemphigus vulgaris (PV) involves the use of one or more drugs. Initially, PV is treated with a corticosteroid. Other drugs are usually used in conjunction with corticosteroids. Corticosteroids Prompt and sufficient doses of corticosteroids, usually prednisone or prednisolone, are required to bring pemphigus under control. Once controlled, the steroid is reduced slowly to minimize side effects. Some patients then go into remission; however, many patients need a small maintenance dose to keep the disease under control. Immunosuppressants Azathioprine (Imuran®) Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept®) Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®) Cyclosporine Additional Drugs Other drugs that are used routinely with varying effects are: Dapsone® Gold injections Methotrexate Tetracycline, minocycline, or doxycycline combined with niacinamide Biologics - several of these drugs (Rituxan, Remicade, Enbrel) are in clinical trial. Treatment should always be addressed according to the disease activity that is clinically apparent. An indirect immunofluorescence test (antibody titer count) will generally show a high count when the disease is more active, and will be low or undetectable when the disease is in remission. However, this is not always true. The antibody titer test may be most useful with patients on maintenance doses of drugs. If a titer count is low, then it could be reassuring that the flare is controllable and short. A high titer might indicate the need for further treatment. To date, no studies have shown that alternative, homeopathic, or any other non-traditional method has been successful in treating these diseases. For the best possible results, it is imperative that traditional treatments be administered. However, once the disease is under control, alternative therapies may be useful to help reduce drug side effects.

Question: Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) Has anyone gone through it and lived a normal active life? Has anyone gone through it and got off the meds? Are the side effects permanant? Does anyone know a good dentist in Los Angeles that is willing to see me?

Answer: unfortunately this is a treatable but not curable skin disorder, you can wean the medications to the least possible doses but getting off is probably not a good idea. you could search for dermatologists online on yahoo yellow pages, good luck

Question: Autoimmune disorder Pemphigus Vulgaris? Does anyone suffer with this disease or know someone who has? I want to know what medications were used to prevent or help the blisters/sores? It would also be helpful if you could say whether you had a severe case or not & just detail what your treatment was.....I have a immediate relative that suffers from this & it seems as if nothing works completely, but I just want to here others experiences to see if there is anything the dr's are overlooking, treatment wise. Thanks in advance. I appreciate your attempt in answering my question, as in this is a rare disease...but I do want to point out one thing...your "PS- the Vulgaris form of pemphigus only attacks domestic animals" is incorrect. Pemphigus Vulgaris is absolutely MOST common in humans. Pemphigus "foliaceus" is recognized in pet dogs, cats and horses and is the most common autoimmune skin disease diagnosed in veterinary medicine. My mother has been battling this disease for years now & I am sure of her diagnosis. I simply wanted to see if anyone out there, suffering with this disease, or that has had 1st hand experience dealing with a patient or loved ones with the disease had any new info or treatments that my mother has not been introduced to, being that her Doctors have tried almost everything known to combat the illness.

Answer: If not treated, pemphigus is fatal, due to overwhelming systemic infection. The most common treatment is the administration of oral steroids, especially prednisone. Recently, there has been great promise of surviving some forms of pemphigus (especially PNP) by using a pooled blood product known as gamma globulin or IVIG. Mild cases sometimes respond to the application of topical steroids. All of these drugs may cause severe side effects, so the patient should be closely monitored by doctors. Once the outbreaks are under control, dosage is often reduced, to lessen side effects. If paraneoplastic pemphigus is diagnosed with pulmonary disease, a powerful cocktail of immune suppressant drugs is sometimes used in an attempt to halt the rapid progression of bronchiolitis obliterans. Some drugs used include solumedrol, ciclosporin, azathioprine, and in rare instances, extremely controlled use of thalidomide in eligible patients. Immune phoresis procedures are also a possible treatment. If skin lesions do become infected, antibiotics may be used for treatment. In addition, talcum powder is helpful to prevent oozing sores from adhering to bedsheets and clothes. PS- the Vulgaris form of pemphigus only attacks domestic animals.

Question: i having pemphigus vulgaris science 1 year . i am taking storied . it is very harm full.?

Answer: No steroids taken in a controlled dosage for a short duration have dramatic and very fast healing effects. All steroids are not very harmful. Our body keeps on producing them as per our requirement. The side effects occur when we use them in high doses and for a longer duration of time. Since you are taking them for a year some side effects may develop. As per the new concept development many autoimmune diseases can be controlled by the mind and ones immunity can be strengthened by using the mind power. Please try positive thinking and meditation as supporting medication.