What are bullous disorders?

➢ Although vesicles and bullae (blisters) occur as secondary phenomena in several unrelated conditions (e.g., herpesvirus infection, spongiotic dermatitis) ➢ there is a group of disorders in which blisters are the primary and most distinctive feature. ➢ Blistering in these diseases tends to occur at specific levels within the skin, a morphologic distinction that is critical for diagnosis. ➢ These disorders are classified based on the level of the epidermis that is affected. ➢ often caused by autoantibodies specific for epithelial or basement membrane proteins that lead to unmooring of keratinocytes (acantholysis).