Here are some at-home treatments that can help. You’ll be pleased to know they can be much less expensive than the typical prescription medications for treating the Pemph, and some of these get some quick relief.
First, a reminder that the Pemph is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. You should know that there is no proven natural or over-the-counter treatment of the Pemph that is completely effective. If you don’t receive care from a trained specialist, you should expect to suffer! These treatments are suggested for use immediately while you’re waiting for an appointment with your specialist, a prescription to be available at your pharmacy, or waiting for a medication to take effect. I know there are some who don’t have access to good medical care, and sometimes something is better than nothing…
If you are fortunate to be under the care of a competent medical professional specializing in your specific Pemph disease, he or she will prescribe medications for your condition essential to achieving a remission of your disease. Even if you receive professional care, there will be times when treatment is not fully effective, particularly immediately after diagnosis, during steroid taper-downs and perhaps later if you have flare-ups. This information is presented in the spirit of helping you make it through those times, and you should always discuss your at-home efforts with your specialist, regardless of whether you find these treatments to work.
Short term relief
Cool air temperatures
Being in a cool room and avoiding warm temperatures can be a big difference, particularly during a flare.
This is because when the air temperature is warm, the capillaries in your skin open up and cause more blood to flow through. With the blood comes the problem antibodies and macrophages. Being in a colder environment slows the immune system and gives the regulatory part of the immune system to react appropriately.
Turn down the air conditioner. If it’s cold outside, open a window. Sleep in the open air, without sheets or blankets. Turn on a fan. Wear light clothing. Run a dehumidifier to keep your body’s natural perspiration more effective.
Cold foods and beverages
Ingesting cold foods and beverages helps to turn the dial down on your immune system. Your body’s metabolism generates heat on the inside. That heat is radiated out through your body and your skin, and cooling the inside has the effect of cooling the outside at the skin.
Drink ice-cold beverages. Eat some ice cream or sherbet, preferably sugar-free if you’re on steroids. Freeze pops and other frozen treats can be a lifesaver.
It goes without saying that if you’re in the middle of a flare, strenuous exercise is asking for trouble.
Over-the-counter anti-itch medications
There are a number of creams that can provide local relief at the site of a newly-forming blister or lesion. Creams are preferable to lotions, because they stay on the skin longer and in wet environments.
Oral medications include:
Diphenhydramine has been found to relieve itching, though it comes with side effects such as drowsiness.
Famotidine, the heartburn relief medication, has been found to relieve itching for a short time (perhaps an hour).
Keep in mind that anti-itch treatments do not stop the progression of the Pemph, just the itch.
Long term relief
Turmeric/curcuminoids
Turmeric is a plant native to southeast Asia, used there as a spice. It gives dishes their orange color, and if you’ve eaten Thai or had an Indian Curry, you’ve already tried this.
The medical benefits of Turmeric are not yet well-understood in the Western World. Turmeric contains substances called curcuminoids which suppress inflammation1, which can keep damage therefrom to a minimum when taken in sufficient amounts.
Now there are a few things to know about Turmeric. Raw Turmeric is the ground root of a plant, which contains a mere 3-7% of the beneficial curcuminoids, which isn’t much. If you take ordinary off-the-shelf turmeric capsules, brown in color, you’ll probably not see much of a difference, because most of that is fibrous matter that is not absorbed in digestion. Similarly, eating turmeric-laden dishes probably won’t do enough good to matter.
Turmeric Extract, on the other hand, is a concentrated form of curcuminoids, typically to 95% by weight, bright orange in color. It is available over-the-counter or by mail, substantially without all that fibrous matter, and a much higher concentration of curcuminoids. Yes, you could take 20 or more ordinary turmeric supplements daily, but why would you when you could take 2-4 turmeric extract capsules instead?
Turmeric Extract is usually combined with Piperine to increase absorption in the digestive tract. Piperine comes from Black Pepper, the same stuff as you’d find in a typical restaurant table shaker.
Turmeric Extract may reduce lesional activity from the Pemph during a flare, and may cause a subsidence of the harmful immune response over some number of months. This is especially true when taken with prescription immunosupressors. However we are not aware of a study performed that would indicate a medically-effective regimen specifically for any form of the Pemph, so the best method may be to try it and see how it goes for the individual.