Scleroderma.
Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as one of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The word “scleroderma” comes from two Greek words: “sclero” meaning hard, and “derma” meaning skin. It is a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. Scleroderma affects women more often than men and most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50.
The problem is with your immune system, which causes your body to make too much of the protein collagen, an important part of your skin. As a result, your skin gets thick and tight, and scars can form on your lungs and kidneys. Your blood vessels can thicken and not work the way they should. This leads to tissue damage and high blood pressure. Scleroderma is not contagious.
There are two types:
- A. Localized scleroderma - mildest form. It mainly affects the skin.
There are two kinds of localized scleroderma:
- Morphea: This involves hard, oval-shaped patches on the skin. They start out red or purple and then turn whitish in the center. Sometimes, but not often, this type can affect blood vessels or internal organs. This is called generalized morphea.
- Linear: This kind causes lines or streaks of thickened skin to form on the arms, legs, or face.
- B. Systemic scleroderma, also called generalized scleroderma, affects the circulation of the blood and the internal organs. There are two kinds of this as well:
- Limited scleroderma: It comes on slowly and affects the skin of the face, hands, and feet. It can also damage the lungs, intestines, or esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. This is sometimes referred to as CREST syndrome:
- C: Calcinosis, or calcium deposits in tissues and under the skin
- R: Raynaud's disease
- E: Esophageal problems, including GERD
- S: Sclerodactyly, or thick skin on the fingers
- T: Telangiectasias, or enlarged blood vessels, manifesting as red spots
- Diffuse scleroderma: This comes on quickly. Skin on the middle part of the body, thighs, upper arms, hands, and feet can become thick. This form also affects internal organs, like the heart, lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.
- Symptoms:
- Hardened or thickened skin that looks shiny and smooth. It’s most common on the hands and face.
- Cold fingers or toes that turn red, white, or blue. This is called Raynaud's phenomenon.
- Ulcers or sores on fingertips