What does scleroderma look like on the skin?

Skin. Nearly everyone who has scleroderma experiences a hardening and tightening of patches of skin. These patches may be shaped like ovals or straight lines, or cover wide areas of the trunk and limbs. The number, location and size of the patches vary by type of scleroderma.

What does scleroderma look like on feet?

Skin thickening and tightening Many patients with scleroderma experience patches of thickened skin, and these patches may be found on the feet, commonly on the dorsum (top) of the foot. You may also notice that your skin generally becomes dry and itchy.

What does localized scleroderma look like?

Symptoms of localized scleroderma Morphea is characterized by thick, hard patches of skin that are white or yellow, and ringed with a purplish halo that may itch but is usually not painful. In linear scleroderma, there are thickened streaks of skin rather than patches, which more commonly extend deep into the skin.

What is the definition of Scleredema?

Scleredema is an uncommon, but likely underrecognized, fibromucinous connective-tissue disease. It is characterized clinically by woody induration and hardening of the skin that results from excessive mucin deposition between thickened collagen bundles in the skin’s dermis.

Do you get a rash with scleroderma?

These red rashes generally occur before the muscle weakness occurs and usually appear on the face, knees, shoulders, and hands. In some affected individuals, the skin changes caused by dermatomyositis are similar to those associated with scleroderma. The skin may become dry and hard and have a brownish color.

Does scleroderma affect toes?

A condition called sclerodactyly, which is the thickening or hardening of the skin of the fingers and toes, also can occur. This may develop after the initial swelling goes away and may be followed by the shrinking or atrophy of skin. You may experience: Skin on your fingers and toes becoming hard and shiny.

What can be mistaken for 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 is connective tissue disease?

A connective tissue disease is any disease that affects the parts of the body that connect the structures of the body together. Connective tissues are made up of two proteins: collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein found in the tendons, ligaments, skin, cornea, cartilage, bone and blood vessels.