The first parts of the body to be affected are usually the fingers, hands, feet and face. In some people, the skin thickening can also involve the forearms, upper arms, chest, abdomen, lower legs and thighs. Early symptoms may include swelling and itchiness.
Beside this, at what age is scleroderma usually diagnosed?
Age: Most localized types of scleroderma show up before age 40, and systemic types of scleroderma are typically diagnosed between ages 30 and 50.
Furthermore, can you reverse scleroderma?
There is no cure for scleroderma. Medications can treat symptoms and prevent complications. Making changes to your lifestyle and diet can make living with the disease easier.
Does scleroderma come on suddenly?
Diffuse cutaneous scleroderma comes on suddenly, usually with skin thickening on your fingers or toes. The skin thickening then spreads to the rest of your body above the elbows and/or knees. This type can damage your internal organs, such as: Anywhere along your digestive system.
How do you confirm scleroderma?
To diagnose scleroderma, a doctor usually begins by asking you about your symptoms, health, and medical history. The doctor will also examine your skin for signs of hardening and thickening. If you have hard, thickened skin, a dermatologist may perform a skin biopsy to help diagnose you.
How quickly does scleroderma progress?
Skin changes can cause the skin to swell, appear shiny, and feel tight and itchy. The damage of diffuse scleroderma typically occurs over a few years. After the first 3 to 5 years, people with diffuse disease often enter a stable phase lasting for varying lengths of time.
Is ANA positive in scleroderma?
Approximately 95% of people with systemic scleroderma have a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test, but so do people with other autoimmune diseases (97% of people with lupus, as an example). People with localized scleroderma usually have negative ANA.
Is scleroderma always fatal?
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 scleroderma hard to diagnose?
Because scleroderma can take so many forms and affect so many different areas of the body, it can be difficult to diagnose. After a thorough physical exam, your doctor may suggest blood tests to check for elevated levels of certain antibodies produced by the immune system.
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 does scleroderma rash look like?
The patches of hardened skin can be lighter or darker than your natural skin color. Some people develop violet-colored skin, which means that the scleroderma is active and expanding. This patient has darker and lighter (white) areas that are hard to the touch.
What is the scleroderma skin pinch test?
“In using a skin scoring system, the physician pinches various parts of the patient’s body to test for thickness. The less skin that can be pinched equals a higher score in diagnosing scleroderma,” says Feghali-Bostwick.
Why are my hands shiny and wrinkly?
Scleroderma Symptoms
Hardened or thickened skin that looks shiny and smooth. It’s most common on your hands and face. Raynaud’s phenomenon.