Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

It is a systemic form of scleroderma, distinct from localized forms with different courses. Limited and diffuse cutaneous patterns describe skin distribution but do not capture every organ risk. Raynaud’s phenomenon may precede other features.

Related topic: Sjögren’s disease: another autoimmune cause of dryness.

Fingers may change colour in the cold, become swollen or tight, and lose flexibility. Reflux, swallowing difficulty, dry cough or breathlessness may occur. Symptoms depend on the affected organ, and new changes should be reported.

Immune and vascular abnormalities interact with excess collagen deposition. The full cause is unknown; genetic and environmental influences may contribute. It is not contagious or caused by eating collagen, and dry skin alone does not establish the diagnosis.

The condition is more common in women and adults, with genetic and environmental influences on susceptibility. Raynaud’s alone does not mean systemic sclerosis will develop. Disease pattern, antibodies, symptom history and treatment affect complication risk.

Diagnosis combines history, examination and immune tests, sometimes with nailfold-capillary or skin assessment. Blood pressure, urine and blood tests, lung function and imaging assess organ involvement as appropriate. A positive antibody alone is not a definitive diagnosis.

Care targets the affected systems: vascular treatment for Raynaud’s, reflux and skin care, mobility support, and selected immune-directed or antifibrotic treatment for lung disease. No single drug addresses every feature. Specialist monitoring is essential; do not start corticosteroids yourself.

Complications may include digital ulcers, lung fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension, heart or oesophageal problems, and kidney crisis in some patients. They do not affect everyone; regular surveillance supports timely detection and treatment.

There is no guaranteed prevention. Protecting extremities from cold, avoiding smoking, caring for skin and teeth, and suitable movement exercises support health. Keep organ-surveillance visits and prescribed blood-pressure monitoring even when skin symptoms seem stable.