What Is Scleroderma?
Scleroderma (pronounced SKLEER-oh-der-ma) is an autoimmune disease that affects your skin. When you have scleroderma, your skin gradually tightens and thickens or hardens. It can’t stretch like it used to.
Scleroderma can also constrict, or narrow, tiny blood vessels. That damages internal organs. Although it usually affects the hands, face, and feet, it can also target the digestive tract, heart and blood flow, lungs, and kidneys.
The good news is that medications can help prevent these kinds of complications, and treatments can ease your symptoms.
Types of Scleroderma
There are many types of scleroderma, and it can look very different from one person to another.
The two main types are localized or systemic scleroderma:
- Localized affects small areas of skin.
- Systemic affects a lot of the body.
See your doctor if you think you might have it. Treatment helps stop systemic scleroderma from becoming life-threatening.
Who Gets Scleroderma?
Anyone can get it, but women are more likely to get it than men.
Localized scleroderma is three times more common in women than men. Systemic scleroderma is usually seen in women ages 30 to 50.
Children can also get scleroderma, but that's rare.
What Causes Scleroderma?
Doctors don't know the exact cause, but they do know what happens when you have scleroderma.
The problem is with your immune system. For some reason, it prompts your body to make too much of the protein collagen. The result is thicker, less flexible skin and other tissues in your body.