When your body starts attacking its own tissues, it can lead to something called scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes the skin and sometimes internal organs to harden and tighten. Also known as systemic sclerosis, it doesn’t just affect how you look—it can change how your lungs, kidneys, and heart work. Unlike normal skin aging, this isn’t about wrinkles. It’s about collagen going haywire, building up where it shouldn’t, and turning soft tissue into something stiff and unyielding.
Scleroderma often starts with Raynaud’s phenomenon—fingers turning white or blue in the cold—then moves to thickened skin on the hands, face, or chest. Some people have it limited to the skin; others develop the more serious systemic form that attacks internal organs. There’s no cure, but treatments exist to slow it down. immunosuppressants, drugs that calm the overactive immune system like mycophenolate or cyclophosphamide are common. Blood pressure meds like ACE inhibitors help protect the kidneys, while proton pump inhibitors manage the acid reflux that often comes with it. The goal isn’t to reverse damage, but to stop it from getting worse.
What’s tricky is that scleroderma looks different in every person. One might struggle with stiff fingers, another with lung scarring. That’s why treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some get relief from physical therapy to keep joints moving. Others need oxygen therapy or even lung transplants if the disease takes hold in their lungs. And while most posts here don’t focus on scleroderma directly, you’ll find related info on how steroids like prednisone affect autoimmune conditions, how medications interact with organ systems, and how to manage side effects from long-term drug use—all of which matter when you’re living with this condition.
There’s no magic pill, but knowing what’s happening inside your body gives you power. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or managing this for years, understanding the link between your immune system, your skin, and your organs helps you ask better questions and make smarter choices with your doctor.
Scleroderma is a rare autoimmune disease that hardens skin and internal organs through excess collagen. Learn how it progresses, how it's diagnosed, and what treatments actually work today.
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