SCLERODERMA
Go to home page cidpusa What Is Scleroderma?
Derived from the Greek words "sklerosis,"
meaning hardness, and "derma," meaning skin, scleroderma literally means hard skin. Though it is often referred to as if it were a single disease, scleroderma is really a symptom of a group of diseases that involve the
abnormal growth of connective tissue, which supports the skin and internal organs. It is sometimes used, therefore, as an umbrella term for these disorders. In some forms of scleroderma, hard, tight skin is the
extent of this abnormal process. In other forms, however, the problem goes much deeper, affecting blood vessels and internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Scleroderma is called both a rheumatic (roo-MA-tik) disease and a connective tissue disease. The term rheumatic disease refers to a group of conditions characterized by inflammation and/or pain in the
muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue. A connective tissue disease is one that affects tissues such as skin, tendons, and cartilage. In this booklet we'll discuss the forms
of scleroderma and the problems associated with each of them, as well as diagnosis and disease management. We'll also take a look at what research is telling us about their possible causes and most effective treatments. And
we will describe ways for people with scleroderma to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. What Are the Different Types of Scleroderma?
The group of diseases we call scleroderma falls into two main classes: localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis. (Localized diseases affect only certain parts of the body; systemic diseases
can affect the whole body.) Both groups include subgroups. (See chart.) Although there are different ways these groups and subgroups may be broken down or referred to (and your doctor may use different terms
from what you see here), the following is a common way of classifying these diseases: Types of Scleroderma
Localized SclerodermaLocalized types of scleroderma are those limited to the skin and related tissues and, in some cases, the muscle below. Internal organs are not
affected by localized scleroderma, and localized scleroderma can never progress to the systemic form of the disease. Often, localized conditions improve or go away on their own over time, but the skin changes and
damage that occur when the disease is active can be permanent. For some people, localized scleroderma is serious and disabling. There are two generally recognized types
of localized scleroderma: Morphea: Morphea (mor-FEE-ah) comes from a Greek word that means "form" or "structure." The word refers to local patches
of scleroderma. The first signs of the disease are reddish patches of skin that thicken into firm, oval-shaped areas. The center of each patch becomes ivory colored with violet borders. These patches sweat
very little and have little hair growth. Patches appear most often on the chest, stomach, and back. Sometimes they appear on the face, arms, and legs.
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