[A male patient with blisters in the face]

Recurrent blisters in the face can be a sign of linear IgA disease, a rare blistering disease with cutaneous as well as mucosal involvement.

A 75-year-old male patient visited our Dermatology outpatient department with complaints of recurring blisters in his face. Erosions and crusts, but no blisters, were seen during physical examination. Histopathologic examination showed subepithelial vesicles. Eventually, direct immunofluorescence showed IgA deposition at the basement membrane zone which confirmed the diagnosis of linear IgA disease. The patient was successfully treated with dapsone. Due to possible mucosal involvement, the patient was also referred to the ENT-specialist and the ophthalmologist who could not find any abnormalities.

With a story of recurrent blisters in the face, one should be aware of the blister disease called linear IgA disease. Clinical presentation may be subtle. Physicians should rule out mucosal involvement as this can lead to great morbidity.