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Vesiculobullous Disorders

»	What is the difference between a vesicle and a bulla?
»	How are the bullous diseases defined?
»	What things cause vesicles and bullae?
»	How do you approach a patient who presents with an acute onset of a vesiculobullous eruption?
»	Which skin findings are helpful in evaluating a patient with blisters?
»	Do particular vesiculobullous diseases occur in characteristic distributions?
»	Which tests are most useful in evaluating vesiculobullous diseases?
»	How should a skin biopsy of a vesiculobullous eruption be performed?
»	When are special tests necessary to diagnose blistering diseases of the skin?
»	How are specimens obtained for direct immunofluorescence?
»	For which vesiculobullous diseases are indirect immunofluorescence helpful?
»	List the most common blistering diseases due to external agents.
»	Name examples of drugs that can cause vesiculobullous eruptions.
»	What is epidermolysis bullosa?
»	Describe the other genetic blistering diseases.
»	List the vesiculobullous diseases caused by metabolic disorders.
»	Describe the clinical findings in bullous diabeticorum.
»	What is the cause of pellagra?
»	What is the difference between porphyria cutanea tarda and pseudoporphyria?
»	What are the necrolytic erythemas?
»	What is the difference between bullous pemphigoid and cicatricial pemphigoid?
»	How do pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus differ?
»	Linear IgA bullous dermatosis occurs in two different clinical situations. What are they?
»	Describe the clinical findings in dermatitis herpetiformis.
»	Does herpes gestationis have anything to do with herpes viruses?
»	What is bullous systemic lupus erythematosus?
»	What is epidermolysis bullosa acquisita?

What things cause vesicles and bullae?

Blisters of the skin may be induced by a wide variety of external agents and diseases, including trauma, infections, metabolic disorders, genetic deficiencies, and inflammatory diseases.