What is causing the water blisters and ulcerations on my chest, back, mouth, and vaginal area? by Dr. Sharon Orrange/Primary Care Physician: at DailyStrength Doctors and Advisors

Dr. Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California, San Diego, and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. She received her MD from the USC Keck School of…

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Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Geriatric, Hospital and General Internal Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

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What is causing the water blisters and ulcerations on my chest, back, mouth, and vaginal area?

Posted in Lupus by Dr. Sharon Orrange on Nov 04, 2009

There are several potential causes of your “water blisters” in those areas. Whenever we see skin lesions in the mouth and vaginal area, Behcet’s disease needs to be considered. Behcet’s is a clinical diagnosis as there are NO specific blood tests for Behcet’s but often the Sed rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) are elevated.

The involvement of other organs (eyes, joints, etc.) is a good hint that Behcet’s may be the culprit.

Lupus can also cause lesions in those areas and yes, in that case, a (+) DS DNA and other rheumatologic tests will help guide you to that diagnosis.

Pemphigus, Bullous Pemphigoid and other autoimmune blistering diseases require skin biopsy for diagnosis which can easily be performed in the dermatologist's office.

Dr. Orrange