How well does Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) treat Pemphigoid?

Pemphigoid is one of the rarely occurring autoimmune conditions. The immune system makes antibodies to attacks viruses and bacteria to prevent them from harming the health of a person. But in this condition, the antibodies attack the healthy cells instead of the harmful cells. It is basically a skin disorder in which, the body sends the antibodies to bind the cells in the skin by mistake. The antibodies cause a reaction in the skin due to which the cells separate from each other and result in two different layers, fluid fills between these layers, and blisters may form.

The malfunctioning of the immune system causes rashes and blisters in different parts of your body. It may occur anywhere in the body from the mucous membranes to your genitalia. But it usually affects the skin in the flexor surfaces in the extremities, groin, and lower abdomen. Pemphigoid being an autoimmune condition may develop in people at any age. It occurs in kids s well but the elderly are most likely to be affected by it. It may affect pregnant women as well.

Types of pemphigoids

There are multiple types of pemphigoids depending upon which part of the body it develops, its symptoms, and its causes. The following are all the types of pemphigoids that are discovered until now:

• Bullous Pemphigoid
• Cicatricial Pemphigoid
• Pemphigoid gestationis

Symptoms of Pemphigoid

Symptoms of pemphigoid can be different in different people. These depend on factors such as the severity of the disease, how long has it been developed for, what type of pemphigoid has affected you, etc. Moreover, people might not experience symptoms of pemphigoid in the initial days of the disease. The symptoms of pemphigoid usually take a few months to years to be noticeable. The following are also the symptoms of pemphigoid that you are likely to experience if you develop this condition:

Skin Rashes

Causes of Pemphigoid

Since pemphigoid is an autoimmune condition, therefore it is not a genetic disease, which means you will not necessarily develop the condition if it’s in your family. If in any case it is passed on to you through genes, it may not cause any symptoms unless it is triggered by any external conditions such as the following:

• Certain medicines
• Ultraviolet light therapy

Radiation therapy

People who have any other autoimmune condition are also at a greater risk for developing pemphigoid. As previously mentioned, it is more common in elderly people than in any other. Women are more likely to get it than men.

Diagnosis of Pemphigoid

Diagnosis of pemphigoid will be performed by your dermatologist by examining your skin condition. The doctor might perform or recommend certain tests so that the condition can be further examined. In case of only blisters, the doctor may require just a skin biopsy to determine the condition. In case of any more unusual symptoms, the doctor may perform a blood test also. The diagnosis of pemphigoid can require a combination of physical examination, some tests, and patient history.

The following tests might be required:

Skin Biopsy

In skin biopsy, small samples of skin are taken from the infected areas. These samples will then be tested for antibodies characteristic of pemphigoid.

Blood test

The determination of the presence of antibodies characteristic of pemphigoid can also be done through blood. The doctor may tell you for a blood test in which they will draw some blood out of your body.

Thyroid test

The doctor may use thyroid testing to distinguish pemphigoid from out autoimmune diseases that have similar symptoms, for example, Grave’s disease.

Treatment of pemphigoid

Pemphigoid basically has no cure. Doctors recommend steroid-based medications to relieve the symptoms of pemphigoid. Additional medications may be required to manage or treat further complications such as:

Dapsone

• Moisturizers or skin creams
• Pain relief medicines
• Antiinflamatory medidines
• Immunosuppressants
• Nicotinamide
• IVIG therapy

Keep in mind

A doctor may recommend that you get professional wound dressing and hospitalization until your wounds get better.

A doctor may recommend you to stay in continuous monitoring as recurrences are very common.

Treating pemphigoid through Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

Since the condition of pemphigoid has no permanent cure, only steroids are given to relieve the symptoms of this condition. Steriods have significant disadvantages. Your body totally gets dependant on them in order to live.

Naltrexone is a drug that is used to treat alcohol dependence problems. If given in low quantity, it can treat numerous deadly health conditions including autoimmune diseases, cancers, etc. Low-dose Naltrexone (LDN) can help to relieve the symptoms of pemphigoid as well as improve your overall health without very few or no side effects at all.

You can get Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in all forms from the Harbor Compounding Pharmacy. Please visit their website for more details.