Scleroderma

Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease that affects the skin, connective tissue and internal organs. It is caused by the immune system attacking the connective tissue under the skin and around internal organs and blood vessels. This causes scarring and thickening of the tissue in these areas.

Scleroderma is not contagious, infectious, cancerous or malignant.

There are several different types of scleroderma that can vary in severity. Some types are relatively mild and may eventually improve on their own, while others can lead to severe and life-threatening problems. The two main forms of this disease are localised scleroderma which is more common in children and systemic scleroderma which is more common in adults.

As scleroderma presents in a similar way to other autoimmune diseases it is difficult to diagnose and is also easy to misdiagnose.

Currently, there is no cure or remedy for scleroderma, but there are many treatments available to help particular symptoms.

Symptoms of scleroderma can affect many parts of the body resulting in ulcers or sores on fingertips, dry eyes and a dry mouth, muscle weakness, painful or swollen joints, shortness of breath, weight loss, and hardened skin that looks shiny and smooth -most common on the face and hands.

Like many similar autoimmune diseases i.e. Raynaud’s and Sjögrens, scleroderma sufferers will commonly experience a dry mouth. To add to this many of the medications prescribed to manage the symptoms are also list dry mouth as a side effect.