Description and Possible Medical Problems
If you’ve ever waxed your legs at home and you decided to leave the wax on for a while so you could see what it felt like to walk around encased in wax, you already have a pretty good idea of what the disease scleroderma feels like.
Scleroderma is a rare disease that is characterized by tight, shiny skin that severely cuts down on the amount of flexibility you have. The skin may also be swollen and painful. Scleroderma is often associated with arthritis since it is a disease of the connective tissue and advances slowly; it can take two years to develop fully.
Scleroderma occurs when the collagen in the connective tissue starts to harden. The cause of scleroderma, however, is not known, although a defect in the immune system has been postulated.
Besides your fingers and hands, scleroderma can affect the feet and face, as well as the esophagus, which can make swallowing difficult. More women than men are affected by scleroderma.
Treatment
If you think you have scleroderma, you should see your doctor, who will do a blood test and possibly a biopsy of your skin to help confirm the diagnosis. He will also check your ability to swallow; if it isn’t affected, he will want to check regularly to see if it deteriorates. If swallowing becomes difficult, you should see an ear, nose, and throat specialist and/or a speech pathologist. Together, the two will advise you on the best foods and best way to eat.
Along with painkillers or aspirin, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce the swelling. You may also require regular sessions with a physical therapist in order to maintain your flexibility.
Although the disease takes a couple of years to develop fully, the good news is that that your skin won’t get any worse after that.
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