Scleroderma, with fewer than 200,000 cases in the United States, 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.
Researchers do not completely understand the cause of scleroderma. However, it is believed that the immune system forces the body into thinking it’s being attacked causing inflammation and damage to the cells that line the body’s blood vessels. This, in turn, causes the overproduction of collagen, which leads to scleroderma since the increased collagen tightens the skin far too much.
Though there is not a clear reason as to why certain people develop the disease, there are certain risk factors. 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. Some environmental factors including some chemicals, abnormal immune system activity, and hormonal imbalances may also increase the chances of developing the disease.
Though there is no cure for scleroderma, 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. The side effects that may come along with scleroderma can also be treated with the help of a dermatologist.
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