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Symptoms:
Hailey Hailey
Disease is a nuisance rather than a serious problem, even
though the affected skin is itchy and uncomfortable, and
the patches come and go. The affected skin may be
uncomfortable if the skin surfaces are continually rubbing
e.g. in the groins when walking. Very rarely a severe
flare-up in the groins, genital area or in the crease of
the buttocks may make walking and working very
uncomfortable.
The first signs of the condition
usually appear between the ages of 15 and 40 years, but it
may also begin outside this age range. The severity varies
enormously and is unpredictable. Red, scaly areas or small
blisters appear at areas of friction, especially at the
sides of the neck or in the skin folds under the arms, at
the tops of the legs [groins] or under the breasts. The
skin looks entirely normal in between active episodes, and
does not scar. Many patients notice that their condition
improves as they get older.
It
is very common for the condition to be mistaken for eczema
(or dermatitis), a sweat rash, ringworm or impetigo (a
bacterial skin infection). The diagnosis of Hailey-Hailey
disease can be made by examining a sample of the skin (a
biopsy) under the microscope. |
