The detection of anti-skin antibodies aids in the diagnosis and prognosis, of chronic vesicular-bullous diseases including pemphigus, pemphigoid, cicatrical pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). Epithelial intercellular antibodies are diagnostic for pemphigus and occur in over 90% of sera from all active forms. Antibodies to basement membrane antigens of stratified squamous epithelium occur in 70% of active bullous pemphigoid, 50% of vesicular pemphigoid and EBA and 10% of cicatrical pemphigoid patients. Serological differentiation of bullous pemphigoid from EBA can be aided by utilising split skin tests.