You are not alone

We're sorry we had to meet this way, but we are glad you found us. Our job is to help you get on the road to recovery as soon as possible.

We specialize in patient education. We've consulted with many of the experts in the field and spoken to a large number of patients over the years to gather the information you'll need to avoid some of the common road-blocks help you regain control of your life as soon as possible.

Our website, newsletter and other publications are designed to get you the information you need now and in the future. There are many scientists studying pemphigus and pemphigoid, as well as bullous (blistering) disease in general; and progress is being made steadily. We are very encouraged by the progress made recently.

While pemphigus and pemphigoid, and the medications used to treat them, are strong and may produce troublesome side effects, they nearly always control the symptoms. We hope to help you with the side effects by telling you what we've learned.

The progress you make is affected by accurate diagnosis, prompt and sufficient treatment, the experience of your physicians and specialists, your support system (family, friends, etc.), and you.

Most importantly, you.

While pemphigus and pemphigoid treat each of us a bit differently, many have gone before you to mark the way. Our staff and volunteers have gathered a great deal of useful information that wasn't available at all just a few short years ago.

You and your caregiver(s) will need to become familiar with your disease, the medications and the side effects of the medications, and other important factors which are specific to you.

The more you know about your disease, the medications used to treat it, and how you react to treatment, the better off you will be. These are not diseases that offer the luxury of sitting back and letting your doctor "call the shots." You will have to become a partner with your doctor and caregivers to determine the best course of action for you. Our role is to provide you with as much information as possible, so you can make the best decisions concerning your health.

We are here to help you find the answers to your questions. We suggest you start by becoming familiar with the information on our website. We have many useful articles and background information, a glossary of medical terms, a medical term spell-checker, an extensive link library, and on-site medical search engines, if you want to do some research on your own.

Our Patient Guides are written by some of the most knowledgeable and experienced scientists and physicians in the world. They contain a wealth of information that will get you off on the right foot, help you be more comfortable and keep you from making 'rookie mistakes.'

If you need a referral, or if your doctor needs a consultation, we have an extensive list of physicians familiar with pemphigus and pemphigoid. You can contact us by phone at 510-755-4266, or by email at .