Scleroderma

Our skin is very important.  Not only does it give us our appearance, but it is our first line of defense for any invaders that may be seeking out a host to infect.  There are several diseases that may affect your skin at any given time…even though it’s rare, scleroderma is one of them.  Scleroderma is a group of diseases that involve hardening and tightening of the skin and its connective tissues, or the fibers that provide the framework and support for your body.  Without those connective tissues we would not be able to maintain positioning of our body.   

Scleroderma differs from one individual to the next, so in some individuals who have this condition it may only affect the skin.  However, the majority of people who are diagnosed with scleroderma find that it harms the structures below and beyond the skin too such as blood vessels, various internal organs, and even the digestive tract.  As always, signs and symptoms of this skin disease will vary person to person, and will also depend upon the severity in which other body structures are affected. 

Any women out there reading?  If so, keep in mind that scleroderma tends to affect you more often than your male counterpart.  In addition scleroderma is also known to most commonly occur between the ages of 30 and 50 years.  This is a condition that currently has no cure, but please do not get discouraged because there are a huge variety of treatments.  Plus, with the help from the professionals at Total Home Health care you will be guaranteed to find ways to ease your symptoms while improving your quality of life!

Symptoms and complications of scleroderma will ultimately depend on which area(s) of your body is affected.  They could include, but are not limited to the following:

·         Skin

§  The skin will show symptoms in nearly all individuals who are affected.

§  Hardening and tightening of patches of skin may occur.

§  Patches of affected skin may be shaped like ovals or appear as straight lines.

§  Number, location and size of the patches will vary depending on the type of scleroderma.

§  Skin may appear shiny because of the increase in tightness.

§  Movement of the area where the skin has tightened may become restricted, which may limit functioning and cause a decrease in self-performance of usual activities.

·         Fingers or Toes

§  One of the earliest signs of scleroderma will be noticed in these areas.

§  There will most likely be an exaggerated response to cold temperatures, which can cause numbness, pain or color changes in the fingers or toes.

§  Blood flow may be restricted and may permanently damage tissue at the fingertips and in the toes, which could also result in ulcers over time.

·         Digestive System

§  Acid reflux may occur.

§  Scleroderma in this area may cause the intestinal muscles to not work properly,

§  Faulty intestinal muscles may cause problems with absorption of nutrients if the food and drinks you consume are not able to move correctly through the intestines.

§  There could be bouts of diarrhea alternating with constipation.

·         Heart, Lungs or Kidneys

§  It is rare that scleroderma will affect these organs…however problems here could become life-threatening.

§  Lung tissue could become scarred resulting in reduced lung function, causing difficulty breathing and reduced tolerance to exercise or usual activities.

§  High blood pressure in the arteries to your lungs (pulmonary hypertension) may also occur.

§  When kidneys are affected there may be an overall increase in blood pressure, along with an increase in protein that spills out into your urine.

§  Kidney failure could eventually result from scleroderma.

§  If scleroderma affects the heart…any scarring of the heart tissue will increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and/or congestive heart failure.

We all want tight skin without wrinkles…right?  Yes, that’s true for some of us…but scleroderma is a whole new level of tight skin that hopefully you and your loved ones can avoid during your lifetime.  Scleroderma is caused by an overproduction and accumulation of collagen in body tissues.  Collagen is a fibrous type of protein found in your body that makes up those connective tissues we talked about earlier…which includes your skin. 

Currently physicians and researchers alike are not completely sure what prompts the abnormal production of collagen in the body, but for some reason the immune system appears to play a role in the development of scleroderma.  The best explanation thus far is that the immune system turns against the body, causing inflammation and overproduction of collagen which ultimately ends up being the spark that jumpstarts scleroderma to run its course over time.  Upon bringing up your signs and symptoms to your provider, you will most likely be referred to continue your care with a rheumatologist in order to receive more specialized care.

Total Home Health also has a program that is right for you and will cater to your needs specifically related to scleroderma once you resume your life back in your home with the ones you love.  Your health and safety are our top priorities. Our selfless professionals will see that you receive the best care possible as directed by your entire healthcare team in order to ease your symptoms while working to maintain and restore your quality of life…all in your safe and comfortable home environment.  They say home is where the heart is, so enroll today with Total Home Health so that yours never has to leave again!