Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare and serious condition that causes painful blisters to develop on the skin and lining of the mouth, nose, throat and genitals.

The blisters are fragile and can easily burst open, leaving areas of raw unhealed skin that are very painful and can put you at risk of infections.

The condition can affect people of all ages, including children, but most cases develop in older adults between the ages of 50 and 60. It isn’t contagious and can’t be passed from one person to another.

Pemphigus vulgaris is what’s known as an autoimmune condition. This means that something goes wrong with the immune system (the body’s defence against infection) and it starts attacking healthy tissue.