Symptoms of scleroderma include:
- Raynaud’s phenomenon:
- Changes in skin color of the fingertips, toes, and nose in response to cold or emotional stress
- Skin usually turns very white when first exposed to cold, then blue, then very red
- May be accompanied by pain, tingling, numbness
- Sores or ulcers on the fingers
-
Changes in the skin, as areas of affected skin lose hair and become:
- Stiff
- Hard
- Thick
- Shiny
- Darker or lighter with darker spots (the so-called salt and pepper appearance)
- Skin over face may become so tight that it’s hard to change expression (face appears “mask-like”)
- Fingers and toes become swollen or puffy
- Whitish bumps of calcium deposits develop under the skin (calcinosis)
- Tiny purplish-red blood vessels appear under the skin
(telangiectasias)
- Skin creases diminish or disappear
- Arthritis
(joint aches and stiffness)
- Muscle pain and weakness
-
Dry eyes and mouth (called
Sjögren’s syndrome)
-
Digestive problems:
-
Problems due to lung, heart, and kidney involvement:
Feldman M, et al.
Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2005.
Ferri F ed.
Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2011. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2010.
Firestein ED et al.
Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2008.
Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds.
Cecil Textbook of Internal Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2008.
Habif TP.
Clinical Dermatology. 4th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2004.
Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 15th ed. McGraw Hill; 2001.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at:
http://www.niams.nih.gov/.
Noble J.
Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2000.
Rakel R.
Textbook of Family Medicine
2007. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2009.
Rakel RE, Bope ET.
Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2009.
Scleroderma Foundation website. Available at:
http://www.scleroderma.org/.
Last reviewed December 2011 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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