Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
12:23
Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
[Bullae and blisters--differential diagnosis]
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie am Biederstein TU München. nina.schnopp@lrz.tu-muenchen.de
MMW Fortschritte Der Medizin
|July 11, 2007
Summary
Blisters and bullae are fluid-filled skin collections, classified by depth and size. While impetigo contagiosa is common in children, consider rarer causes if treatment fails.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pathology
Context:
- Skin blisters and bullae are circumscribed fluid collections.
- These lesions are classified by size (blisters/blebs ≤1 cm, bullae >1 cm) and depth (subcorneal, intraepidermal, junctional, subepidermal).
- Pustules are pus-filled vesicles.
Purpose:
- To differentiate various types of blistering skin lesions.
- To highlight common causes like impetigo contagiosa in children.
- To emphasize the need for considering differential diagnoses when standard treatments are ineffective or in the absence of pyogens.
Summary:
- Blisters and bullae are categorized based on their location within the skin layers and size.
- Common examples include impetigo contagiosa (subcorneal), pemphigus vulgaris (intraepidermal), bullous pemphigoid (junctional), and epidermolysis bullosa variants (intraepidermal or subepidermal).
- Impetigo contagiosa is the most frequent blistering disease in pediatric patients, usually straightforward to diagnose and treat.
Impact:
- Provides a classification framework for blistering skin conditions.
- Guides clinicians in diagnosing and managing common pediatric skin infections.
- Promotes awareness of less common, potentially serious blistering diseases requiring further investigation.
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