A chronic, generally benign disease, most commonly of old age, caused by antibodies that accumulate abnormally in a layer of the skin called the basement membrane: "Bullous pemphigoids can be chronic, mild and not affect the general health or they can be severe and compromise the health of the sufferer."

"Although most cases of bullous pemphigoids are in older people, the disease can affect younger people, and even babies."

"The diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid can be confirmed by a skin biopsy showing the abnormal antibodies deposited in the skin layer and treatment is with topical cortisone creams; however, severe cases may sometimes require high doses of cortisone-like drugs (steroids) or immune suppression drugs; such as, azathioprine (Imuran). Azathioprine attacks proteins that the immune system considers to be foreign."