Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disease that causes the skin to become inflamed and thickened. There are two major types of scleroderma: localized and systemic. Localized scleroderma solely affects the skin and parts of the body right under the surface of the skin. Systemic scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, affects many parts of the body including the blood vessels and internal organs. System sclerosis is then further divided into two groups, limited and diffuse, to indicate the amount of skin involved.

Severity

Scleroderma, though by itself not deadly, can be so when it spreads to the heart or the lungs.

Affected Demographic

Scleroderma is more common in women than in men, appears in people between the ages of 30 and 50, and tends to affect people of the African American demographic the most. Additionally, though the disease itself cannot be passed down to children, genes may increase the risk of a child of a patient getting scleroderma.

Treatment

There is no cure for scleroderma but there are treatments that a dermatologist may recommend. The doctor may recommend medications like anti-inflammatory medications to manage the pain and swelling, topical creams, immunosuppressants to inhibit the overactive immune system, and vasodilators to widen the blood vessels. For this disease, dermatologists also tend to recommend medications that are similar to those for rheumatic diseases, like physical or occupational therapy, which can help relieve pain and improve muscle strength.

Sources

1. “Scleroderma.” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 6 Sept. 2024, www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/scleroderma#:~:text=Scleroderma%20is%20an%20autoimmune%20disease,much%20collagen%2C%20leading%20to%20scleroderma.