| SKIN
INVOLVEMENT: MAIN MENU |
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| Scleroderma
Skin Involvement: Overview |
| This page was written
by Shelley Ensz,
and has not yet been medically edited. Scleroderma (SD) affects
everyone differently. Just because something is listed here
does not mean an individual patient will ever experience it.
See Disclaimer. |
| Association with other Symptoms |
| Exercise Performance In Systemic Sclerosis: Relationship With Disease Manifestations. Exercise performance is impaired in most SSc patients, at least in those admitted in a referral clinic. The impairment of exercise performance is correlated to lung, heart and skin involvement. L. Ruocco AB0525 EULAR 2007 (Also see: Effects of SSc, Cardiac and Pulmonary Involvement) |
| Organ Involvement-Induced Disability In Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) . SSc-related disability is clinically significant and is mostly related to joint, cutaneous and cardio-pulmonary involvement, as well as to the disease-induced fatigue. C. Mihai. AB0514 EULAR 2007. (Also see: Skeletal, Cardiac and Pulmonary Involvement) |
| Alopecia (Hair Loss) |
 Alopecia
(hair loss) may occur with scleroderma, if it affects
the scalp. It may also occur due to the side effects of some
treatments for Scleroderma symptoms, such as chemotherapy. |
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| Calcinosis |
| Calcinosis. The systemic forms of scleroderma
can cause small white calcium lumps to form under the skin
on fingers or other areas of the body. This is called Calcinosis.
The lumps may break through the skin and leak a chalky white
liquid. ISN. |
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| Collagen, Face Lifts and Scleroderma |
| Collagen, Face Lifts, and Scleroderma. Collagen injections should
be used with caution in people who have had certain autoimmune diseases. ISN. |
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| Fingernails, Nailfolds, and Cuticles |
| Fingernails, Nailfolds, and Cuticles. The systemic forms of scleroderma can cause the fingernails to become smaller, and cuticles to become hard or rough. But because there are so many possible causes of poor fingernail or cuticle condition, they are not part of the diagnostic criteria for any form of scleroderma. ISN. |
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| Digital (Finger) Ulcers |
| Digital
(Finger) Ulcers are sores caused by an interruption in
blood supply from Raynaud's. |
| Edema (Swelling) |
| In the initial stages, the systemic
forms of scleroderma may cause edema (swelling) in the fingers. |
| Quantitative
echographic analysis of photochemotherapy on systemic sclerosis
skin. Photochemotherapy was more likely to improve dermal
edema, not fibrosis, because echo intensity after treatment
was significantly elevated with that before treatment in
patients with edema. Quantitative echographic analysis was
concluded to be a reliable method in evaluating the change
of skin edema in SSc. PubMed. Arch Dermatol Res. 2005
Apr 1. (Also see: Treatments) |
| Elbow Tip Pain |
| Scleroderma
Elbow Tip Pains "Scleroderma is a chronic condition
that causes inflammation and thickening of the skin. A common
area of involvement of this condition is the skin over the
tips of the elbows (the olecranon area). When this skin is
involved, it can lead to troublesome irritation of the tips
of the elbows with tenderness noted when any pressure is
applied." MedicineNet |
| Fibrosis |
| Skin
Fibrosis, which is a hardening of the skin, can happen
very rapidly (within a few weeks of onset) or very slowly,
over the course of many years. Skin fibrosis normally worsens
during the first two to five years, and then improves. Once
the skin softens, it seldom goes through a second hardening
phase. If the Scleroderma progresses uninterrupted,
the fingers may harden, often causing Flexion
(Joint) Contractures. (Also see: Sclerodactyly) ISN. |
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| Gangrene
(Death of Tissue) |
 Gangrene
and Amputations. Severe
cases of scleroderma and Raynaud's may cause a total lack of
blood supply to the extremities. When this happens, necrosis
(death of tissue) and gangrene may set in, sometimes making
it necessary to have the affected part(s) amputated. Gangrene occurs more frequently
among scleroderma patients who smoke or use caffeine, because
such substances further constrict blood vessels. ISN. |
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| Hyperpigmentation |
| Scleroderma can cause hyperpigmentation
(darkening) of the skin, usually in the areas which have been
affected by skin hardening. Cosmetically, this can be covered
up with such products as Dermablend® Corrective
Cosmetics. |
| Do You Have an Autoimmune Disease? Why You Should Beware of the Sun. Some people with scleroderma have hyperpigmentation of the skin that is made worse by sun exposure. Arthritis Today. 02/28/07. (Also see: Autoimmunity) |
| Reticulate
hyperpigmented scleroderma: a new pigmentary manifestation. While
diffuse generalized hyperpigmentation and localized hypopigmentation
with perifollicular hyper-pigmentation are well recognized,
a vascular induced hyperpigmentation has only been recently
described. Clinical & Experimental Dermatology. Vol
30:2; p 131.March 2005. |
| Itching |
| In Diffuse
Scleroderma, itching may precede skin tightening, and
is a temporary phase. The prescription drug Atarax (generic
name: Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride) may help in this situation.(1) |
| Consult your doctor right away
if you develop sudden or severe itching, as this may be a symptom
of other things, such as kidney
failure or liver
disease, which often occur in systemic scleroderma. |
| What's
Your I.Q.? (Itch Quotient?) Lanacane Itch Information
Center |
| Microstomia |
| Microstomia is the term used when
fibrosis causes the skin around the face and mouth area to
become hard and tight. Movement of the tongue may be impaired
as well. See Scleroderma
Photos. |
| Jacquie:
Diffuse Scleroderma I am fifty-six years old and I
was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma in November of 2003,
right when menopause hit... |
| Rosemary
F: Surviving Daughter of Diffuse Scleroderma Patient She
tried to explain it, but it was hard for me to comprehend
the disease's symptoms. Mom said that it was the same thing
that her oldest sister died from... |
| Neck Sign |
| The Neck Sign is a distinctive
pattern of yellow-brown plaque with beading and ridging. See Scleroderma
Photos |
| Raynaud's |
| Raynaud's causes
blood vessel spasms, which can cause painful coldness, color
changes, numbness and tingling. ISN. |
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| Rashes |
| Skin rashes may be caused by various autoimmune
diseases such as lupus or dermatomyositis and in some
skin conditions which are similar
to Scleroderma. But before becoming unduly concerned,
rule out the most common causes. |
| Skin
Rashes and Other Changes.The location, appearance and
color of a rash will help your doctor make the diagnosis.
Look for care suggestions on this chart for common rashes. familydoctor.org |
| Skin
Rashes: Self-Care Flowchart. (Excellent & Easy to
Use) |
| Chronic
hives: What causes them? Occasionally, chronic hives
can be associated with a serious, underlying medical condition,
such as lupus, connective tissue disease, thyroid disorder
and cancer. So it's important to have chronic hives evaluated
by a doctor. MayoClinic. 04/12/07. |
| Reticulate Hyperpigmented
Scleroderma |
| Reticulate
hyperpigmented scleroderma: a new pigmentary manifestation. We
report another unrecognized pigmentary abnormality in a 48-year-old
patient who presented with a reticulate hyper-pigmentation
affecting the trunk, upper and lower limbs. To our knowledge,
cutaneous hyperpigmented reticulate scleroderma has not been
reported previously. PubMed. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2005 Mar;30(2):131-3. |
| Sclerodactyly |
| Sclerodactyly. When
the fingers become tight, stretched, wax-like, and hardened
it is called sclerodactyly. ISN. |
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| Telangiectasia |
| Telangiectasia may
appear on the hands or face. These are tiny red dots, which
are caused by blood vessels dilating near the surface of the
skin. They are harmless, and can be covered up with makeup
if need be. ISN. |
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| Xerosis (Dry Skin) |
| Xerosis may
occur from Scleroderma causing the skin to become excessively
dry. Very mild soaps and lotions (often baby products) are
recommended. ISN. |
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