• adults, usually 40 – 60 years old
• occurs first in the mouth, later affects the entire body
• flaccid, easily broken blisters, without inflammation
• erosions, crusts
• sometimes pain, bleeding
• heals without scars
• life threatening disease
• loss of fluids, proteins, secondary infections
• test Tzanck is used in clinical diagnostics: cytologic identification of acantholytic keratinocytes within the smear of underside of the fresh bulla.
• Nikolski sign: pressure of the finger causes formation of a new bulla; pressure of the finger in the vicinity of the bulla causes extension of the bulla and acantholysis (pseudonikolski sign)

Pemphigus vegetans is an longstanding vulgar pemphigus of the intertriginous areas with pustules and vegetations. pemphigus foliaceus (subcorneal acantholysis).

pemphigus erythematosus Senear-Usher, (similar to p. foliaceus, dermo-epidermal deposits similar to those in lupus erythematodes may be present), pareneoplastic and drug induced pemphigus are separate diseases, characterized by acantholysis as well.

Pemphigus herpetiformis is a rare variant of vulgar pemphigus, clinically resembling dermatitis herpetiformis (vesicles, papules, strong pruritus) and histologically is characterized by acantholysis and positive immunofluorescence finding. Inflammatory infiltrate is of variable density, with admixture of eosinophils and/or neutrophils. May affect oral mucosa as well.