A chronic and progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by thickening of the skin and the connective tissues.

A chronic autoimmune phenomenon characterized by fibrosis (or hardening) and vascular alterations of the skin.

A chronic disorder marked by hardening and thickening of the skin. Scleroderma can be localized or it can affect the entire body (systemic).

A localized or systemic chronic and progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by thickening of the skin and the connective tissues. Localized scleroderma affects only the skin. Systemic scleroderma affects internal organs, including the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys.

An autoimmune disease in which the skin thickens and hardens; sometimes other parts of the body are affected, and joint pain may result.

Chronic hardening and thickening of the skin caused by swelling and thickening of fibrous tissue leading to eventual atrophy of the epidermis; can occur as a localized or a systemic disease.

Scleroderma means "hard skin." It's the name of an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and thickening in the skin and other areas of the body. This inflammation causes you to have areas of tight, hard skin. Scleroderma may affect just one area of your body, or it can affect many systems in your body. There are two main types of scleroderma: Localized scleroderma only affects your skin and the muscles and tissues just under your skin.; Systemic scleroderma, which is also called systemic sclerosis, is a more serious type. It affects many parts of your body and can damage your blood vessels and internal organs, such as your heart, lungs, and kidneys. The exact cause of scleroderma is unknown. Researchers think that several factors may play a part in causing the disease: Your genetics. Certain genes can increase the chance that you will develop scleroderma. They may also play a role in which the type of scleroderma you have. Scleroderma is not passed from parent to child, but you are more likely to develop it if a close relative has it.; Your environment. Exposure to certain things in the environment, such as viruses or chemicals, may trigger scleroderma.; Immune system changes. When your immune system changes, it can trigger your cells to make too much collagen in the body. Too much collagen causes patches of tight, hard skin.; Hormones. Hormonal or immune system differences between women and men might play a part in the disease. Anyone can get scleroderma, but certain factors may make you more likely to develop it: Your sex. Scleroderma is more common in women than in men.; Your age. The disease usually appears between the ages of 30 and 50.; Your race. Scleroderma can affect people of all races and ethnic groups, but the disease can affect African Americans more severely. The symptoms of scleroderma are different for each person, depending on the type of scleroderma you have: Localized scleroderma usually causes patches of thick, hard skin in one of two patterns: Patches in firm, oval shapes that stay in one area or spread to other areas of skin. This is called morphea.; Lines of thickened or different colored skin that run down your arm, leg, and, rarely, on the forehead. This is called linear scleroderma.; Systemic scleroderma can cause problems with your internal organs as well as your skin. It can cause symptoms such as: Thick, tight skin on your fingers; Fatigue; Raynaud's phenomenon, a narrowing of blood vessels in the hands or feet; Damage to your internal organs, including your digestive system, lungs, kidneys, and heart. . There is no single test for scleroderma. The symptoms can vary from person to person and can be similar to those of other diseases. This can make scleroderma hard to diagnose. To find out if you have scleroderma, your health care provider: Will ask about your symptoms and medical history; Will do a physical exam; May order blood tests, including an ANA (antinuclear antibody) test; May do a skin biopsy; May do other tests, such as imaging tests, to check for organ damage. There is no cure for scleroderma, but treatments can help control your symptoms and limit damage. The treatments may include: Medicines to help decrease swelling, manage pain, control other symptoms, and prevent complications.; Physical or occupational...

The term scleroderma is derived from the Greek words skleros (hard or indurated) and derma (skin) and it is used to describe a disease characterized by progressive skin hardening and induration. Hippocrates first described this condition as thickened skin.

Scleroderma (sklair-oh-DUR-muh) is a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues.

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disorder that may involve changes in the skin, blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs. There are two main types: localized scleroderma, which affects only the skin; and systemic scleroderma, which affects the blood vessels and internal organs, as well as the skin. These two main types also have...

Scleroderma, a chronic disease of the skin that also can affect the blood vessels and various internal organs. Scleroderma is characterized by excessive deposition of collagen--the principal supportive protein of the connective tissues--in affected areas. There are two main types of scleroderma: a...