[Bullous skin diseases]

Abstract

This review finds that topical corticosteroids and systemic corticosteroids are the mainstays of initial treatment for bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus diseases. Additional immunomodulatory therapies such as methotrexate, azathioprine and mycophenolatmofetil should be added early during treatment to minimize the adverse effects of chronic corticosteroid therapy and to augment improvement in the disease. Rituximab is a first-line immunomodulatory treatment for moderate to severe pemphigus disease.