Symptoms of Scleroderma
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Symptoms of scleroderma include:
- Raynaud’s phenomenon
:
- Changes in skin color of the fingertips, toes, and nose in response to cold or emotional stress
- Skin usually turns very white when first exposed to cold, then blue, then very red
- May be accompanied by pain, tingling, numbness
- Sores or ulcers on the fingers
-
Changes in the skin, as areas of affected skin lose hair and become:
- Stiff
- Hard
- Thick
- Shiny
- Darker or lighter with darker spots (the so-called salt and pepper appearance)
- Skin over face may become so tight that it’s hard to change expression (face appears “mask-like”)
- Fingers and toes become swollen or puffy
- Whitish bumps of calcium deposits develop under the skin (calcinosis)
- Tiny purplish-red blood vessels appear under the skin (telangiectasias)
- Skin creases diminish or disappear
- Arthritis (joint aches and stiffness)
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Dry eyes and mouth (called Sjögren’s syndrome )
-
Digestive problems:
- Heartburn
- Difficulty swallowing
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Poor absorption of nutrients, weight loss
- Liver blockage, jaundice (yellowish appearance to the whites of the eyes and the skin)
-
Problems due to lung, heart, and kidney involvement:
- Shortness of breath
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Kidney failure
References:
Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 15th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2001.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/ .
Scleroderma Foundation website. Available at: http://www.scleroderma.org/ .
Last reviewed August 2008 by Ross Zeltser, MD, FAAD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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