Scleroderma Disease

• Scleroderma

Although scleroderma may be referred to as a single disease, it is really a symptom of a group of diseases. This eMedTV article discusses this condition in detail, including information about symptoms, subtypes, treatment options, and prognosis.

• Types of Scleroderma

Types of scleroderma include localized and systemic. This eMedTV article describes each of these types and also includes information about the associated subtypes, which include morphea, linear (localized), limited, diffuse, and sine (systemic).

• Localized Scleroderma

Localized scleroderma has two subtypes: morphea and linear. This section of the eMedTV Web site describes these subtypes in detail, including how they generally appear, which areas of the body they tend to affect, and how long they may last.

• Systemic Scleroderma

Systemic scleroderma is a condition in which, as this eMedTV page explains, skin and tissue become progressively hard and thickened. This page also offers a detailed look at the associated subtypes, which include limited, diffuse, and sine.

• Scleroderma Causes

Scleroderma causes, as this eMedTV resource explains, are still under investigation. However, possibilities include environmental factors, genetics, or abnormal immune activity, among other things. The condition is not inherited or transmittable.

• Early Symptoms of Scleroderma

Early symptoms of scleroderma will vary, depending on the type and subtype of the disease that a person has. This eMedTV article describes some early symptoms of various types, which usually affect the skin and the tissues beneath it.

• Scleroderma Symptoms

Scleroderma symptoms can include reddish patches of skin that thicken into firm, oval-shaped areas. This eMedTV article describes these and other symptoms in detail, which vary depending on the type and subtype of scleroderma that a person has.

• Scleroderma Diagnosis

When making a scleroderma diagnosis, a doctor considers your medical history and physical exam findings. This eMedTV Web page describes the diagnostic process in detail, which includes tests for certain antibodies and a skin biopsy.

• Treatment of Scleroderma

A rheumatologist will typically manage treatment of scleroderma. This eMedTV page describes possible treatment options and the other members of the healthcare team who will provide them, such as dentists, occupational therapists, and dermatologists.

• Scleroderma and Your Health

This eMedTV page focuses on the link between scleroderma and your health, and offers tips to help make living with the disease easier. Outcomes are often based largely on a person's ability to follow his or her doctor's orders and to stay informed.

• Scleroderma Research

This eMedTV Web page discusses current scleroderma research studies that are improving our understanding of the disease. One study is focusing on the role of blood vessel malfunction, cell death, and autoimmunity as they relate to the condition.

• Living With Scleroderma

This portion of the eMedTV library discusses areas of concern for people living with scleroderma and offers tips on overcoming or managing these things. For example, an occupational therapist can help make daily tasks easier to perform.

• CREST

This segment of the eMedTV archives describes CREST -- a type of scleroderma that affects the skin only in certain areas, including the fingers, hands, and face. The symptoms that the acronym is based on are also explained.