There is currently no cure for EB. At this time the best hope is gene therapy. In 1993 the gene that causes Dystrophic EB was located. That was the first major step. More advances are being made every year giving much hope for the future. Scientists are currently testing the delivery of modified cells to genetically altered mice that have EB traits.

Epidermolysis Bullosa, or EB for short, is the name given to a group of rare genetic blistering skin disorders. EB causes the skin to be so fragile that even minor rubbing can cause blistering. In severe EB, daily bandage changing is required to treat the many open wounds and blisters. EB can also effect other areas such as the eyes and internally such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, upper airway, bladder, and genitals. The skin is made up of many layers.

Of these, less than 300 have the same form of EB that I was born with. (Recessive Dystrophic - Hallopeau Siemens Epidermolysis Bullosa.) Only one in a million babies are born with the Recessive Dystrophic form of EB (RDEB). I prefer to say I'm one in a million  :o)

Most people with EB have inherited the condition through genes they have received from one or both parents. The faulty genes cause structural abnormalities in the skin. Genes govern the formation of different types of protein in the skin, including collagen and keratin. When any of these proteins is bad, the skin becomes so fragile it can literally fall apart.

Some forms of EB are dominant, some are recessive and some are spontaneous mutations (abnormal changes in a gene that occurred during the formation of the egg or sperm) In dominant forms of EB, the disease gene is inherited from only one parent who has the disease and there is a 50% chance with each pregnancy the baby will have EB. In the recessive forms, the disease gene is inherited from both parents. Neither parent shows signs of the disease, they are just carriers of the EB gene.

By doing a skin biopsy (taking a small sample of skin and examining it under a microscope), a dermatologist can identify where the skin separation occurs and what form of EB the person has. One diagnostic test involves use of a microscope and reflected light to see if proteins needed for forming connecting fibrals, filaments or hemidesmosomes are missing or reduced in number.

In 1886, Kobner introduced the name epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria to describe a multigeneration affected family with mildly generalized, predominantly acral, serous blistering. This name is still widely used today. During the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, other famous dermatologists, including Brocq and Hallopeau, continued to group these patients under such terms as congenital traumatic pemphigus, congenital traumatic blistering, or acantholysis bullosa.

There are currently only two types of EB that are considered lethal. The first is Junctional Herlitz, which is often deadly to newborns. Junctional Herlitz effects internally, including the airway and other internal organs causing major complications. Many with this form pass away within a few weeks of birth.  The other form is RDEB-HS (the kind I have).

Thankyou for taking the time to learn about Epidermolysis Bullosa. Please help spread awareness and pass this site onto others. No, not at all, in fact most with EB excel in school. EB children can be mainstreamed into regular classes with the other kids. Some severe forms of EB cause the person/child to look much younger than they actually are, however don't let this fool you! In some forms of EB the skin does get better with age, in some cases dramatically better.

Alcohol dependence (alcoholism) can be treated. Alcohol dependence treatment programs use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking. Treatment has helped many people stop drinking and rebuild their lives.1 Alcohol dependence treatment works for many people. But like other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma, there are varying levels of success when it comes to treatment. Some people stop drinking and remain abstinent.

Stem cells are used today in the treatment of leukemia, breast cancer, lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease, Aplastic Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, various other cancers, blood diseases, hereditary/genetic conditions and immune system disorders. There are approximately 1.4 million new cancer cases each year. As stem cell transplants become routine, they may be used to fight lung cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, AIDS and many other genetic diseases.

Genital herpes is a lifelong disease. There is no cure for genital herpes, but over time, outbreaks occur less frequently and get milder for many people. After several years, your outbreaks may be rare or stop all together. Antiviral medications are used either periodically (episodic treatment) to reduce symptoms and speed healing of genital herpes outbreaks, or continuously (suppressive treatment) to prevent or reduce the number of outbreaks.

Yes, in some cases. Several countries with good TB control programmes have shown that cure is possible for up to 30% of affected people. But successful outcomes also depend greatly on the extent of the drug resistance, the severity of the disease and whether the patient's immune system is compromised.

Yes, syphilis can be cured. Penicillin is the preferred drug to treat syphilis at all stages. The dose and length of treatment depends on the stage of syphilis and symptoms of the disease. If a person can’t take penicillin, another medicine may be available. But in late syphilis, damage already done to body organs cannot be reversed. You can get syphilis again after being cured if you are exposed to it. Taking antibiotics does not protect you from getting syphilis again.

Yes, cancer can be cured, but that doesn't depend on cancer, that depend on person. Curing cancer means curing body, mind and a soul. Once your body, your mind and your soul are healthy, you are cured. But, that still doesn't mean that you can't get cancer again, if you destroy your mental, physical and spiritual health.

No. Spider veins are a chronic condition, meaning that you can count on having them for the rest of your life. Treating them can make them smaller and less noticeable, or in some cases can make them completely disappear. Unfortunately, they will eventually return although maybe in a completely different area. It is impossible to predict with any accuracy when this will happen. It might be years or months. It is a highly individualized condition.

No, there is no cure for enlarged prostate (BPH). However, treatments are available that can offer you significant relief from the symptoms of BPH.

No, alcoholism cannot be cured at this time. Even if an alcoholic hasn't been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse. To guard against a relapse, an alcoholic must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages.

There is no cure for rosacea, but it can be treated and controlled. In time the skin may look better. A dermatologist (a doctor who works with diseases of the skin) often treats rosacea. There are several ways to treat rosacea. For skin: Sometimes antibiotics can be put right on the skin. Other times, oral antibiotics can be used. The skin bumps may get better quickly, but redness and flushing are less likely to improve. Small red lines can be treated with electrosurgery and laser surgery.

Unfortunately, GERD, in general, cannot be cured at present. In some cases, it may be a temporary condition associated with a specific aggravating factor such as pregnancy. In such cases, GERD will go away on its own when the pregnancy has ended. In most cases GERD is a chronic condition. However, it can be effectively managed with medications and lifestyle modifications in almost everybody. In severe cases, surgery is an option.

Although medical science has made significant strides in recent years in understanding epilepsy, and surgery offers hope for a cure for some patients, for most a cure does not yet exist. However, the disorder can be treated, and people with epilepsy who suffer uncontrolled seizures and/or are dissatisified with their therapy should continue to work with their physician to seek an effective treatment program.

No, since it is not a disease it cannot be cured in the same sense as an infection can be cured. Nor do all of us want to become neurotypical. Many parents of highly-challenged or non-verbal children with Kanner’s type autism believe that their children have a disease that research will eventually find a cure for, or at least a method of prevention. We support scientific research on brain development.

Yes. When detected early, surgical removal or melanomas can cure the disease in most cases. Early detection is essential: there is a direct relationship between the thickness of the melanoma and survival rates. Regular self-examination of your skin to detect changes in your skin and in existing moles or blemishes is urged. Additionally, a head-to-toe skin examination by your physician is recommended once a year in many patients.

Each dyslexic person's difficulties are different and vary from slight to very severe disruption of the learning process. There is no total cure, but the effects of dyslexia can be alleviated by skilled specialist teaching of phonics, sequencing and techniques to raise the person's self-esteem. The neurological differences also give some dyslexic people visual, spatial, physical co-ordination and lateral thinking abilities that enable them to be successful in a wide range of careers.

No. Glaucoma is incurable, but it is controllable. In most cases it can be successfully controlled with the proper treatment. Glaucoma is a chronic, lifelong condition requiring continual observation and management of the patient to keep elevated intraocular pressure under control and to help prevent loss of vision. The earlier the condition is discovered and treated, the greater the success in preventing vision loss.

Arachnophobia is a fear of spiders. The cause might be different from person to person, so the level of their reaction, the type of reaction and the cure are all different. Because it's such a wide subject, we've collected a series of websites with information, either professional or anecdotal about the fear and it's treatment. We don't take responsibility for any of the information provided on these sites, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. http://www.ufsia.ac.be/Arachnology/Arachnology.