Introduction
Localised scleroderma is an autoimmune condition that affects the appearance and thickness of the skin.
Autoimmune conditions cause the immune system to get confused and attack its own body instead of fighting off illness and infections. In localised scleroderma, inflammation causes the skin to become thick, hard, and discoloured. This can affect the way skin looks and moves.
Localised scleroderma tends to affect girls more than boys. It cannot be caught from other people and is not passed down in families.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of localised scleroderma can start slowly and are usually lesions or marks on the skin that are:
- a white, red or purple colour
- lines, streaks or round
- waxy or shiny
- hard to touch.
Patches of hard skin can cause discomfort and issues with being able to move the joints well.
Diagnosis
Your local doctor will refer your child to a specialist doctor called a rheumatologist for diagnosis and management of localised scleroderma.
A rheumatologist looks after the joints and muscles.
There is no one test to diagnose localised scleroderma. Your child's doctor will:
- physically check the skin
- check that symptoms are not caused by any other health issues
- order a biopsy – where a sample of the skin is taken and tested.
Treatment
Treatment of localised scleroderma aims to:
- bring the inflammation under control as quickly as possible
- prevent it from spreading
- improve movement and flexibility in joints that are affected by hardened skin.
Treatment can involve medications to control the inflammation, and steroid creams for the skin.
Your child’s doctor will discuss with you the different treatments, and what will work best for your child.
Your child may also see a physiotherapist or occupational therapist to help them with:
- growth issues
- joint movement and flexibility
- muscle weakness
- relaxing tight or hard areas of skin.