Vesicles and Bullae (2 of 2)

Formation of Vesicles

Vesicles may be caused by:

• balloon degeneration of keratinocytes (eg foot and mouth disease).
• loss of cohesion between cells in or just below the epidermis due to an autoantibody response directed at proteins involved in cellular attachment (eg bullous pemphigoid).
• cell-mediated cytotoxicity leading to a loss of structural integrity of epidermal cells (eg erythema multiforme).

Because vesicles and bullae are fragile and transient, the dominant lesion type may be erosion and ulceration.