Symptoms of scleroderma may include: Thickening and swelling of the fingers. Pale fingers that may become numb and tingle when exposed to cold or stress, known as Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Similarly, can you have mild scleroderma?
Localised scleroderma is the mildest form of the condition. It often affects children, but can occur at any age. This type just affects the skin, causing 1 or more hard patches to develop.
Likewise, how do you diagnose scleroderma?
It is a clinical diagnosis that requires a thorough exam and history by the doctor. 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.
How do you treat scleroderma fingers?
Treating Scleroderma
Getting pain relief through nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications or corticosteroids. Easing skin itchiness with skin lotions and moisturizers. Slowing skin thickening and minimizing damage to the internal organs with medication that suppresses 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 causes thickening of skin on fingers?
Share on Pinterest Scleroderma can cause swelling of the hands and thickened skin on the fingers. Scleroderma means “hard skin.” Early symptoms of scleroderma include changes in the fingers and hands, for example, stiffness, tightness, and puffiness because of sensitivity to cold or emotional stress.
What do scleroderma hands feel like?
Raynaud’s phenomenon is common in scleroderma and occurs because of an inappropriate and exaggerated contraction of the small blood vessels in the fingers and toes in response to the cold or emotional distress. When this happens, the digits may turn white, blue or red, and feel painful or numb.
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 a 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 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 happens if scleroderma is left untreated?
Scleroderma causes a restrictive ventilatory defect (small lungs) secondary to an inflammatory process in the lung alveoli (air sacs). This process, left untreated, leads to fibrosis of the lung tissue (a fibrosing alveolitis) that interferes with normal gas exchange from the air to the blood.
What triggers scleroderma?
The cause of scleroderma is unknown. However, researchers think that the immune system overreacts and causes inflammation and injury to the cells that line blood vessels. This triggers connective tissue cells, especially a cell type called fibroblasts, to make too much collagen and other proteins.
What were your first symptoms of scleroderma?
Symptoms of scleroderma
- Skin thickening. This particularly affects the joints of the fingers. …
- Tight or shiny skin. Tight skin around the joints (known as contractures) can stop you moving freely. You may also get itchy skin.
Why do my hands feel waxy?
When a person has Raynaud’s phenomenon, exposure to cold abnormally reduces blood circulation, causing the skin to become pale, waxy-white or purple. The disorder is sometimes called “white finger”, “wax finger” or “dead finger.” Raynaud’s phenomenon has many different causes including workplace exposures.