Images of scleroderma are available at the Scleroderma Foundation's website, Scleroderma.org. Scleroderma images are also located at DermNet.com, in the lupus and other connective tissue diseases category.Continue Reading
Scleroderma is a chronic connective tissue disease that is usually categorized as a type of autoimmune rheumatic disease, according to the Scleroderma Foundation. The disease often manifests through skin hardening and is not always progressive. Scleroderma is not contagious or malignant.
Scleroderma symptoms vary from person to person and range from mild to life-threatening, reports the Scleroderma Foundation. Without proper treatment, mild cases can become severe. When a physician properly treats the disease, the symptoms can be minimized, and the chance for irreversible damage is decreased.
There are two forms of scleroderma: systemic and localized, with the localized form being more common in children and the systemic form being more common in adults, states the Scleroderma Foundation. Scleroderma is more common in females, and factors such as race, ethnicity, age at onset, and the pattern or level of severity at which a person's internal organs are involved are also risk factors for scleroderma.
Though the exact cause of the disease is unknown, the medical community has determined that scleroderma is related to producing too much collagen, explains the Scleroderma Foundation. As of 2015, there is no cure for the disease, but there are treatments available to manage scleroderma symptoms.Learn more about Skin Conditions