Scleroderma is a group of diseases that cause abnormal growth of the connective tissue that supports the skin and internal organs. In its simplest form it causes hard, tight skin. Scleroderma can also affect many of the body's major organ systems, causing wide-ranging problems with the joints, heart, lungs and other systems.
Types
There are two basic types of scleroderma. Localized scleroderma affects only the skin and related tissues. It can form either oval patches or a single band of thickened, discolored skin. It can also spread over large areas of the body and lasts only three to five years.
System scleroderma affects not just the skin but the tissues beneath it including blood vessels and major organs. The course of systemic scleroderma varies dramatically depending on which parts of the body the disease strikes.
Causes
Researchers don't know what causes scleroderma but it does not appear to be inherited or transmitted from person to person, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system turns on itself. There may also be environmental or hormonal factors that trigger the disease. The disease is more common in women. There is no treatment for scleroderma itself but doctors can limit symptoms and damage.
Raynaud's Phenomenon
About 90 percent of people with scleroderma have Raynaud's Phenomenon in which the blood vessels in the hands and feet contract in response to cold and stress, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. This can turn them white and cold and even blue. For some this means little more than cold hands and feet. But others experience serious tissue damage and can experience puffy fingers, ulcers, scars and even gangrene.
External Effects
Hardened skin around joints or inflammation within them can cause stiffness in scleroderma patients. This can be painful and can limit activity. The disease can also cause dry, stiff skin, dry mouth, loose teeth and gum problems. It also causes small red spots on the hands and face as well as larger areas of discoloration, all of which are harmless but can be disfiguring.
Internal Effects
Scleroderma can affect any part of the digestive system, causing heartburn, difficulty swallowing, diarrhea, constipation, gas and a loss of appetite. It can also impair the body's ability to absorb nutrients from food.
The disease can cause breathing difficulties due to hardening and scarring of the lungs or because of high blood pressure in the artery that feeds the lungs. It can also weaken the heart by causing scarring of the heart muscle, inflammation and abnormal heartbeat. Scleroderma can cause uncontrolled high blood pressure that damages the kidneys.
