Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. The symptoms may either be visible, as when the skin is affected, or invisible, as when only internal organs are involved. Involvement may range from mild symptoms to life-threatening.

Scleroderma is not contagious or inherited.

While seemingly rare, scleroderma is more prevalent than muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and a host of other better known diseases.

The exact cause or causes of scleroderma are unknown and there are acknowledged links to some chemcals. It is known that the disease process in scleroderma involves an over-production of collagen.

Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) affects approx 20 people out of every 100,000.