What is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the connective tissue. Autoimmune disorders take place when the body’s own immune system attacks its tissues. Scleroderma causes the development of a scar tissue known as fibrosis in the skin and other organs of the body.  Women are more vulnerable to scleroderma than are men, and the disease usually affects people aged between 30 to 50 years.

There are basically two kinds of scleroderma. These are –

Localized scleroderma affects mainly on the skin, and can be defined in two categories- morphea and linear. Morphea is a condition where oval-shaped patches, red or purple in color, appear on the skin. Morphea scleroderma can seldom affect blood vessels or internal organs. Linear scleroderma refers to a condition where streaks or lines of thickened skin appear on the face, legs, or arms.

Generalized scleroderma is a systematic condition affecting different parts of the body. Limited generalized scleroderma is a gradually-occurring condition that affects the skin on the hand, feet, and face, while damaging many internal organs. Diffused scleroderma occurs more rapidly and involves thickening of the skin in different parts of the body, affecting internal organs more than other conditions.

Scleroderma is not only damaging, it is also a mentally disturbing disease. Therefore it is important to take proactive measures to control the worsening of the condition on the body.