Living with Scleroderma
An autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and thickening in the skin and sometimes other areas of the body.
Understanding Scleroderma
It causes areas of tight, hard skin. It may affect just one area of the body or many body systems. It can start at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition. Its summary describes tight, hard skin.
- Tight, hard skin
- Inflammation in the skin
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include skin, hair, and nail specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Autoimmune Association, Scleroderma Research Foundation and Global Autoimmune Institute may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Skin, hair, and nail specialists (dermatologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Autoimmune Association, Scleroderma Research Foundation, Global Autoimmune Institute
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Autoimmune Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD describes it as an autoimmune disease. It does not list a gene or inheritance pattern.
Also known as: dermatosclerosis; progressive systemic scleroderma; pseudoscleroderma; scleroderma (disease)
Patient organizations
- Autoimmune AssociationScleroderma · United States
- Scleroderma Research FoundationScleroderma · United States
- Global Autoimmune InstituteScleroderma · United States
- National Scleroderma FoundationScleroderma · United States
- Children's Skin Disease FoundationSkin diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Scleroderma.
Explore research for Scleroderma
Explore actively recruiting Scleroderma studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Scleroderma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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