The skin and the mouth are the most common areas to be affected in PV. But, more rarely, erosions can also occur in other mucous membranes. The following section describes the effect PV can have on each different site on the body:
How does pemphigus vulgaris affect different parts of the body?
Having PV can affect people in different ways. This next section gives you an idea of how PV affects different parts of the body.
On the skin
- you can get blisters and erosions on your skin.
- the erosions can join up and become large, raw areas of eroded skin.
- the erosions can be painful.
- as they start to heal, the erosions can become dry and crusty, like scabs, which can sometimes itch.
- when erosions heal, the skin may be discoloured and darker than usual. This will usually fade. Sadly, for some people, the marks never completely go away.
- in the rare subtype of PV called pemphigus vegetans, the skin in the flexures e.g. the armpits and the groin, becomes thickened, overgrown and warty.
- (see ‘What does pemphigus vulgaris look like?').
In the mouth
- you can get erosions in your mouth (oral PV).
- these erosions can be painful.
- they can join together so that there are large, raw, sore areas in your mouth.
- painful mouth erosions may make eating or drinking difficult, which can lead to weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration.
- mouth erosions may be particularly slow to heal
- (see ‘What does pemphigus vulgaris look like?').
Up the nose
- you can have scabs or sores in your nose.
- some people get bleeding from their nose.
- you may have difficulty breathing through your nose because of the scabs or sores.
In the throat
- you can get erosions in your throat.
- these can give you a sore throat.
- you may find you get a hoarse voice or temporary loss of voice.
- some people experience coughing up blood-streaked phlegm, but this is rare.
In the food pipe (oesophagus)
- you can get erosions in your food pipe.
- these can make it painful or difficult to swallow.
In the eye
- the white of the eyes may become red and sore.
- erosions may form on the eyelids or on the lining of the eyes (conjuntiva).
- the eyes may water and be sensitive, especially to light.
In and around the genitals and anus
- erosions can form around the anus or on the penis, vulva, vagina or cervix.
- these can make it painful to go to the toilet (pass urine or open your bowels).
- they can make sex painful.
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