Early symptoms may include swelling and itchiness. Affected skin can become lighter or darker in color and may look shiny because of the tightness. Some people also experience small red spots, called telangiectasia, on their hands and face.
Accordingly, does scleroderma cause weight gain?
Acute localized scleroderma (morphea) can present as severe generalized oedema with rapid weight gain and oliguria.
Many patients with scleroderma experience patches of thickened skin, and these patches may be found on the feet, commonly on the dorsum (top) of the foot. You may also notice that your skin generally becomes dry and itchy.
Consequently, how fast does systemic scleroderma progress?
Patients with early diffuse SSc tend to have worsening of their skin thickness over the first 1–3 years after disease onset. During this phase of skin thickening, patients develop internal organ involvement (Table 1). In addition, worsening skin thickness is a predictor of morbidity and mortality.
How is systemic scleroderma diagnosed?
The doctor will start by asking questions about symptoms and previous medical history. He or she will also do a physical exam and may order a biopsy to look at a small sample of the affected skin under a microscope. He or she may also order urine, blood and other tests to see if any internal organs have been affected.
How serious is systemic scleroderma?
It is the most fatal of all the rheumatologic diseases. Systemic scleroderma is very unpredictable although most cases can be classified into one of four different general patterns of disease (see Classification).
Is systemic scleroderma painful?
Most scleroderma patients also experience some pain, which can range from uncomfortable to debilitating.
What are the stages of scleroderma?
Cutaneous involvement has 3 phases: (1) edematous, (2) indurative, and (3) atrophic. Skin becomes thickened and tight.
What can mimic scleroderma?
However, similar features of hard and thick skin can be seen in other conditions which are often referred to as “scleroderma mimics”. These mimics include eosinophilic fasciitis, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, scleromyxedema, and scleredema among others.
What does a scleroderma flare feel like?
Common symptoms of scleroderma may include painful joints (arthralgia), morning stiffness, fatigue, and/or weight loss. The intermittent loss (triggered by cold temperatures) of blood supply to the fingers, toes, nose, and/or ears (Raynaud’s phenomenon) is an early and frequent complaint of people with scleroderma.
What foods should be avoided with scleroderma?
REFLUX/HEARTBURN: eat small frequent meals to avoid overfilling your stomach; avoid eating within 2-3 hours of bedtime; avoid foods that may aggravate symptoms such as citrus fruits, tomato products, greasy fried foods, coffee, garlic, onions, peppermint, gas-producing foods (such as raw peppers, beans, broccoli, raw …
What is the difference between scleroderma and systemic sclerosis?
What’s the difference between scleroderma and systemic sclerosis? Scleroderma is seen only on the skin. However, when the fibrosis involves your other internal organs, this is considered systemic sclerosis.
What is the life expectancy of someone with systemic scleroderma?
People who have localized scleroderma may live an uninterrupted life with only minor symptom experiences and management. On the other hand, those diagnosed with an advanced and systemic version of the disease have a prognosis of anywhere from three to 15 years.
What tests confirm scleroderma?
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing is the most important blood test to screen for scleroderma and other connective tissue diseases.
Where does scleroderma usually start?
Another early sign of systemic scleroderma is puffy or swollen hands before thickening and hardening of the skin due to fibrosis. Skin thickening usually occurs first in the fingers (called sclerodactyly) and may also involve the hands and face.