Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
National Institutes of Health
NCATS

COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation.

Get the latest public health information from CDC: https://www.coronavirus.gov (link is external)
Get the latest research information from NIH: https://covid19.nih.gov (link is external)

National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences
1-888-205-2311
Menu Search
1-888-205-2311
Menu
  • Home
  • Diseases expand submenu for Diseases
    • Browse A-Z
    • Find Diseases By Category expand submenu for Find Diseases By Category
      • Autoimmune / Autoinflammatory diseases
      • Bacterial infections
      • Behavioral and mental disorders
      • Blood Diseases
      • Chromosome Disorders
      • Congenital and Genetic Diseases
      • Connective tissue diseases
      • Digestive Diseases
      • Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases
      • Endocrine Diseases
      • Environmental Diseases
      • Eye diseases
      • Female Reproductive Diseases
      • Fungal infections
      • Heart Diseases
      • Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
      • Immune System Diseases
      • Kidney and Urinary Diseases
      • Lung Diseases
      • Male Reproductive Diseases
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Mouth Diseases
      • Musculoskeletal Diseases
      • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
      • Nervous System Diseases
      • Newborn Screening
      • Nutritional diseases
      • Parasitic diseases
      • Rare Cancers
      • RDCRN
      • Skin Diseases
      • Viral infections
    • List of FDA Orphan Drugs
    • GARD Information Navigator
    • FAQs About Rare Diseases
  • Guides expand submenu for Guides
    • Patients, Families and Friends expand submenu for Patients, Families and Friends
      • How to Find a Disease Specialist
      • Tips for the Undiagnosed
      • Support for Patients and Families
      • Tips for Finding Financial Aid
      • Help with Travel Costs
      • How to Get Involved in Research
      • FAQs About Chromosome Disorders
      • Medical and Science Glossaries
    • Healthcare Professionals expand submenu for Healthcare Professionals
      • Caring for Your Patient with a Rare Disease
      • ICD Coding for Rare Diseases
      • FindZebra Diagnosis Assist Tool
    • Researchers expand submenu for Researchers
      • Finding Funding Opportunities
    • Teachers and Students expand submenu for Teachers and Students
      • Teaching Resources
  • News expand submenu for News
    • In The Spotlight
    • News Archive
    • Connect with GARD
    • Media Requests
  • About GARD expand submenu for About GARD
    • Contact GARD
    • About GARD
    • Videos
    • Brochures and Publications
  • En Español expand submenu for En Español
    • Enfermedades
    • Contacte GARD
    • Guías de Información expand submenu for Guías de Información
      • Preguntas Más Frecuentes Sobre Enfermedades Raras
      • Como Encontrar un Especialista en su Enfermedad
      • Consejos Para una Condición no Diagnosticada
      • Consejos Para Pacientes y Familias
      • Consejos Para Obtener Ayuda Financiera Para Una Enfermedad
      • Participe en Estudios de Investigación
      • Preguntas Más Frecuentes Sobre los Trastornos Cromosómicos
    • Sobre GARD
  • Home
© Positive Exposure
banner showing people with disabilities and/or their relatives
  1. Home
  2. Diseases
  3. Hailey-Hailey disease
print
  • Table of Contents expand submenu for Table of Contents
    • Summary
    • Symptoms
    • Inheritance
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • Find a Specialist
    • Research
    • Organizations
    • Learn More
    • GARD Answers
    • References
  • Browse A-Z
  • Find Diseases By Category expand submenu for Find Diseases By Category
    • Autoimmune / Autoinflammatory diseases
    • Bacterial infections
    • Behavioral and mental disorders
    • Blood Diseases
    • Chromosome Disorders
    • Congenital and Genetic Diseases
    • Connective tissue diseases
    • Digestive Diseases
    • Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases
    • Endocrine Diseases
    • Environmental Diseases
    • Eye diseases
    • Female Reproductive Diseases
    • Fungal infections
    • Heart Diseases
    • Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
    • Immune System Diseases
    • Kidney and Urinary Diseases
    • Lung Diseases
    • Male Reproductive Diseases
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Mouth Diseases
    • Musculoskeletal Diseases
    • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
    • Nervous System Diseases
    • Newborn Screening
    • Nutritional diseases
    • Parasitic diseases
    • Rare Cancers
    • RDCRN
    • Skin Diseases
    • Viral infections
  • List of FDA Orphan Drugs
  • GARD Information Navigator
  • FAQs About Rare Diseases
You can help advance
rare disease research!
You can help advance rare disease research!
toolbox
Find out how with the NCATS Toolkit.

Hailey-Hailey disease


Información en español Title




Other Names:
Benign familial pemphigus; Benign chronic pemphigus; Familial benign pemphigus; Benign familial pemphigus; Benign chronic pemphigus; Familial benign pemphigus; BCPM See More
Categories:
Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Skin Diseases
GARD Information Navigator

GARD Information Navigator

Try our interactive tool for help finding information, services, experts, financial aid, and more!

Summary Summary


Listen
Hailey-Hailey disease is a genetic skin disease that causes blistering. Signs and symptoms include a painful rash and blistering in skin folds, such as the armpits, groin, neck, under the breasts, and between the buttocks. Secondary bacterial infections are not uncommon. Symptoms are often worse in summer months due to heat, sweating, and friction.[1] Hailey-Hailey disease is caused by mutations in the ATP2C1 gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.[2] Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and preventing flares, and may include topical medication, laser, and other procedures.[1][3][4]
Last updated: 5/31/2017

Symptoms Symptoms


Listen

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 6 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Acantholysis 0100792
Erythema 0010783
Hyperkeratosis 0000962
Skin erosion 0200041
Skin vesicle 0200037
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Showing of 6 |
Do you have more information about symptoms of this disease? We want to hear from you.
Last updated: 2/1/2021
Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you.

Inheritance Inheritance


Listen
Hailey-Hailey disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.[2] This means that having only one mutated copy of the disease-causing gene in each cell is enough to cause features of the disease. Some people with Hailey-Hailey disease inherit the disease from a parent with the disease. Other cases are due to a new mutation in the gene and occur in people with no family history of the disease. When a person with an autosomal dominant condition has children, each child has a 50% (1 in 2) risk to inherit the mutated copy of the gene.
Last updated: 5/31/2017

Diagnosis Diagnosis


Listen
The diagnosis of Hailey-Hailey disease usually is made based on symptoms and family history. As it can be mistaken for other blistering skin conditions, a skin biopsy might be needed. Genetic testing is available to confirm the diagnosis, but is not required.[1] ATP2C1 is the only gene known to be associated with Hailey-Hailey disease.[5] Genetic testing for at-risk relatives and prenatal testing are also possible if the disease-causing mutation in the family is known.
Last updated: 5/31/2017

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Treatment Treatment


Listen
There is no specific treatment for Hailey-Hailey disease and management generally focuses on the specific symptoms and severity in each person.

People with Hailey-Hailey disease are encouraged to avoid "triggers" such as sunburn, sweating, and friction, and to keep the affected areas dry. Sunscreen, loose clothing, moisturizing creams, and avoiding excessive heat may help prevent outbreaks.[3] Trying to prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal infections in the affected areas is also important, and drugs used to treat or prevent these infections are commonly used.[3][6]

Topical medications (such as mild corticosteroid creams and topical antibiotics) may improve symptoms in milder forms.[3][6] Cool compresses and dressings may also help.[3] More severe cases may require systemic antibiotics (especially erythromycin and tetracycline) and/or stronger corticosteroid creams.[3] Topical tacrolimus ointment can be used to control the disease, even without the use of topical corticosteroids.[4]

When the disease does not improve with these treatments and it is widespread, additional treatment options may include:[4][7]
  • Corticosteroid injections,
  • Laser ablation therapy (such as CO2 ablation laser)
  • Radiofrequency (RF) surgery
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
  • Electron beam radiotherapy
  • Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A)
  • Dermabrasion
  • Topical cadexomer iodine powder
  • Oral dapsone
  • Oral methothrexate
  • Oral retinoids (isotretinoin or acitretin)
  • Injections of afamelanotide
  • Oral glycopyrrolate
  • Injections of alefacept
Botulinum toxin, CO2 ablation laser, and dermabrasion are the most studied and have shown to be effective treatments. Some reports show that low-dose botulinum toxin type A injections should be given first in hard-to-treat cases because it is well-tolerated, effective, and has few or mild negative side effects.[7]
Last updated: 5/31/2017

Find a Specialist Find a Specialist


Listen

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

  • To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from MedlinePlus Genetics.

Research Research


Listen

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Hailey-Hailey disease. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Organizations Organizations


Listen

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

  • Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST)
    2616 North Broad Street
    Colmar, PA 18915
    Toll-free: 1-800-545-3286
    Telephone: +1-215-997-9400
    E-mail: info@firstskinfoundation.org
    Website: http://www.firstskinfoundation.org/
  • Hailey-Hailey Disease Society
    515 Park St
    Harrison, MI 48625
    E-mail: http://haileyhailey.com/contact-us
    Website: http://haileyhailey.com

Social Networking Websites

  • Visit the following Facebook groups related to Hailey-Hailey disease:
    Hailey Hailey Disease New Approaches
    Hailey-Hailey Disease Worldwide Support Network
Do you know of an organization? We want to hear from you.

Learn More Learn More


Listen

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • DermNet NZ is an online resource about skin diseases developed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated. DermNet NZ provides information about this condition.
  • Genetics Home Reference contains information on Hailey-Hailey disease. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Hailey-Hailey disease. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

GARD Answers GARD Answers


Listen

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.

Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.

References References


  1. Hailey-Hailey disease. DermNet NZ. 2016; http://www.dermnetnz.org/systemic/familial-pemphigus.html.
  2. Benign chronic pemphigus. Genetics Home Reference. 2016; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/benign-chronic-pemphigus.
  3. Hailey-Hailey disease. NORD. 2015; http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/1223/viewAbstract.
  4. Helm TN. Familial Benign Pemphigus (Hailey-Hailey Disease). Medscape Reference. 2017; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1063224-overview.
  5. Familial benign pemphigus. Genetic Testing Registry. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gtr/conditions/C0085106/.
  6. Familial benign chronic pemphigus. Orphanet. June, 2006; http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?lng=EN&Expert=2841.
  7. Farahnik B, Blattner CM, Mortazie MB et al. Interventional treatments for Hailey-Hailey disease. J Am Acad Dermatol. March, 2017; 76(3):551-558.e3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27745906.
Do you know of a review article? We want to hear from you.
You can help advance
rare disease research!
You can help advance rare disease research!
toolbox
Find out how with the NCATS Toolkit.

Share this content:

Share this content:

twitter-icon facebook-icon contact-icon link-icons

Copy Link

Link copied to your clipboard.

printer-icon

You May Be Interested In

How to Find a Disease Specialist

How to Find a Disease Specialist

Tips for the Undiagnosed

Tips for the Undiagnosed

Support for Patients and Families

Support for Patients and Families

Tips for Finding Financial Aid

Tips for Finding Financial Aid

Help with Travel Costs

Help with Travel Costs

How to Get Involved in Research

How to Get Involved in Research

FAQs About Chromosome Disorders

FAQs About Chromosome Disorders

Medical and Science Glossaries

Medical and Science Glossaries

Caring for Your Patient with a Rare Disease

Caring for Your Patient with a Rare Disease

ICD Coding for Rare Diseases

ICD Coding for Rare Diseases

FindZebra Diagnosis Assist Tool

FindZebra Diagnosis Assist Tool

Finding Funding Opportunities

Finding Funding Opportunities

Teaching Resources

Teaching Resources

placeholder for the horizontal scroll slider Back to top
GARD Home NCATS Home Site Map Browse Glossary A-Z Privacy Notice Disclaimer Accessibility FOIA OIG

If you have problems viewing PDF files, download the latest version of Adobe Reader

For language access assistance, contact the NCATS Public Information Officer

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) - PO Box 8126, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126 - Toll-free: 1-888-205-2311

contact gard Office of Rare Disease Research Facebook Page Office of Rare Disease Research on Twitter
Listen