Morphea-- The most common form of localized scleroderma.
The type known as localized scleroderma mainly affects the skin. Systemic scleroderma, which is also called systemic sclerosis, affects the smaller blood vessels and internal organs of the body.
Oh, dude, localized scleroderma is like when your body's immune system goes, "Hey, let's mess with this person's skin!" So, it starts attacking the connective tissues, making them all hard and thick. It's like your skin decided to put on a suit of armor for no reason.
You describe two common symptoms of scleroderma.
There are two major forms of the disorder. The type known as localized scleroderma mainly affects the skin. Systemic scleroderma, which is also called systemic sclerosis, affects the smaller blood vessels and internal organs of the body.
Scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a hardening or sclerosis in the skin or other organs. The localized type of the disease, known as "morphea", while disabling, tends not to be fatal. The systemic type or systemic sclerosis, the generalized type of the disease, can be fatal, as a result of heart, kidney, lung or intestinal damage. It is currently not fully understood what exactly causes this disease, although there are various theories.
Some common symptoms of scleroderma can include an overreaction to exposure to cold even at small temperature increases. More common symptoms can include a hardening of the skin caused by it becoming tightened in spots.
Scleroderma is an autoimmune skin disease that can either be found in systemic or localised forms. The systemic kind can be identified by the thickening and tightening of the skin and connective tissue. Localised symptoms of Scleroderma are similar to Schlerosis, where patches of hard, and sometimes scaly skin become visible.
The first thing to do is get a Rheumatologist that knows about Scleroderma. It's treated by the symptoms that one has. Everyone that has Scleroderma has symptoms in common, but no one really has all the same symptoms as another. I have Scleroderma, and I see my Rheumatologist primarily, but also see a Gastroenterologist for my "tummy" problems, a hand surgeon for my Raynauds problems, sometimes a Dermatologist. Your Rheumatologist will lead you in the right direction.
I was diagnosed with three different autoimmune diseases several years ago--Lupus, Scleroderma, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthaffect has successfully taken care of the inflammation that comes with Scleroderma, and I am no longer experiencing any of the symptoms from any of the autoimmune diseases I was diagnosed with.
The most important symptom is thickened or hardened skin on the fingers, hands, forearms, or face. This symptom is found in 98% of people with scleroderma.The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is positive in more than 95% of people with scleroderma.
There is not a single dosage regimen for scleroderma, a doctor needs to determine the dosage based on each individual and the symptoms the person is having.