Hello, my name is Edna and I am twenty-three years old. When I was twenty-one I got little spots that were clearer than my skin tone in my upper back. I did not really pay too much attention to them, I could not even see them very well as they were on my back. They began spreading towards my lower back and my thighs.

Since I used to tan a lot and I even used tanning booths, I thought it was normal and due to the tanning.

Six months later I visited a dermatologist, who said it looked like a fungus and gave me some medicine that didn't work at all. Afterwards, since I saw the spots were getting darker, I decided to get blood tests. My brother has dermatomyositis and my tests ruled that out.

Two months ago, a friend insisted and I got a biopsy. The new dermatologist I went to diagnosed me with scleroderma. This got me into a depression for several weeks, especially after searching for information about it, since I found out some of the symptoms are similar to those of my brother, who hasn't improved in three years.

Afterwards I went to another doctor who ordered a series of studies (that I am still waiting for) to determine how advanced the scleroderma is. I have had back problems and I even feel my internal organs are suffering.

What scares me the most is that after the diagnosis, I got another spot on my right leg and it is advancing quite fast, and I am beginning to feel that it contracts my nerves. I am scared of the possibilities. I think that my brother's illness is enough for my family.

I am desperate because I know this is a deteriorating illness. I do not mean to scare whoever is reading this, I just hope you realize that when we see something that's not quite right with our body we shouldn't postpone our visits to the doctor. If you feel something similar to my symptoms, get immediate treatment, it would be better, and more specific if the diagnosis is done through blood tests or biopsies.

In Baja California, México, I found a dermatologist who, after diagnosing me with scleroderma, gave me medications. The medicine was too aggressive for my depression, so the doctor I went to afterwards gave me a treatment for my depression, and he recommended me to stop the medication until I got my results back.

I would appreciate any info on this, send it to my e-mail. If I can help you with information I will let you know since I will go visit several doctors in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. God Bless.

Webmaster's Note: Linear Scleroderma usually affects only the skin and not the internal organs, although in up to 25% of cases there may be one or two additional symptoms outside of skin involvement. It is very different from systemic scleroderma. See Linear Scleroderma Treatments for the latest treatment information.