Scleroderma facts and myths that need to be revealed

Have you heard of scleroderma before? Scleroderma is one of several types of autoimmune rheumatic disease also known as systemic sclerosis. Indeed, not many know about this scleroderma. For clarity, I will discuss one by one the myths and facts about scleroderma.

Various myths and facts about scleroderma

Although scleroderma is less common than other autoimmune diseases such as lupus, there are various things that need to be cleared up around the scleroderma myth.

The following are various less-known scleroderma myths and facts:

1. Is it true that scleroderma is a disease that only affects the skin?

The answer, not. Scleroderma is indeed an autoimmune disease whose main symptoms affect the skin.

Scleroderma is a disease that comes from the words "sclero" which means hard or stiff and "derma" which means skin.

So, scleroderma is a disease characterized by hardened and stiff skin.

The main symptoms of scleroderma include hardening of the skin, blackening, and white patches appearing on the top or salt and pepper appearance .

In addition to the main signs on the skin, scleroderma sufferers also often experience initial symptoms in the form of joint pain.

More than about 90% of people with scleroderma have Raynaud's phenomenon.

Raynaud's phenomenon is a discoloration of the fingers, toes, lips, tongue, ears, or face when you are in cold weather or experiencing emotional stress.

The color change in these parts of the body starts from a pale white color when blood circulation is disturbed, to turning blue when the blood is deprived of oxygen.

Finally, blood flow returns to normal to a red color. However, not only affects the skin and joints, scleroderma can also be found in other organs of the body.

This is why scleroderma that attacks the skin alone is a myth.

2. Myth or fact, scleroderma is a disease that mostly affects women?

The answer, fact. About 90% of scleroderma patients occur in women.

However, it is not clear why most cases of scleroderma are experienced by women and why so few occur in men.

Meanwhile, the risk of developing scleroderma can occur in anyone from infants to the elderly (elderly).

However, scleroderma is most at risk in the 35-55 year age group.

3. Is it true that there is only one type of scleroderma?

The answer not, this is just a sceloderma myth. Scleroderma is a disease that is divided into two types.

First is localized scleroderma (localized scleroderma) and secondly ie systemic sclerosis (systemic scleroderma).

Localized scleroderma

Localized scleroderma or localized scleroderma is a type that does not occur in all parts of the body but only appears in certain parts.

This type of scleroderma is divided into morphea and linear scleroderma. Morphea has a special characteristic in the form of thickening of the skin that looks smooth, shiny, to brown in color.

Sometimes the thickening of the morphea can disappear or get bigger. While linear scleroderma generally appears on the arms, legs and forehead.

Linear scleroderma can also form folds that resemble a sword incision along the scalp and neck.

Linear scleroderma is sometimes capable of damaging the deep layers of the skin. This limits the movement of the joints that are under the skin.

Systemic scleroderma

Systemic sclerosis or systemic scleroderma is thickening or crusting of the skin due to the formation of scar tissue throughout the body's organs, including muscles and joints.

So the scleroderma myth that there is only one type is incorrect. This type of scleroderma is divided into diffuse (comprehensive) scleroderma and limited (limited) scleroderma.

As the name implies, diffuse scleroderma is a thickening of the skin that quickly gets worse and affects almost all parts of the body..

In contrast, limited scleroderma does not affect the chest, abdomen, upper arms and thighs. Thus, limited scleroderma is limited to the fingers, arms, face, and hands and rarely affects the internal organs.

Both diffuse and limited scleroderma have the potential to spread to other organs.

However, diffuse scleroderma which usually has the greatest chance of hitting other organs of the body.

4. Is it true that scleroderma is a mild disease?

The answer, not. This can be said to be a myth because scleroderma is not a mild disease.

This is because in addition to hitting the skin as its main target, scleroderma can also attack organs in the body, especially the heart and lungs.

It is on this basis that scleroderma cannot be underestimated as a skin disease alone.

People with scleroderma are usually also advised to do an examination of the heart and lungs to determine their condition.

This is because scleroderma is a disease that can attack other organs such as the heart, lungs, pulmonary hypertension, digestive system, and kidneys.

5. Myth or fact, is scleroderma easy to diagnose?

The answer, myth. Most autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma, are difficult to diagnose when just looking at the initial symptoms.

Because the symptoms that appear can resemble other autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and others.

Therefore, doctors will usually see what symptoms the patient has experienced, including physical and skin examinations.

In addition, doctors will also perform various other tests to confirm the results. The tests doctors do to diagnose scleroderma are laboratory tests, including routine blood tests, kidney function tests, liver function tests, ANA tests and an ANA profile.

ANA or anti-nuclear antibodies test aims to look for specific antibodies that are usually owned by people with scleroderma.

The doctor may also perform a skin biopsy if the symptoms of a skin disorder tend to be doubtful.

Meanwhile, if the symptoms of a skin disorder are quite typical, doctors usually do not perform a biopsy examination.

Furthermore, if the patient is classified as having systemic scleroderma, doctors generally recommend further examinations related to the heart and lungs.

6. Myth or fact, can not scleroderma be treated and cured?

The answer, fact. It's actually not just a myth that scleroderma is a disease that can be treated.

However, until now there is no cure for scleroderma.

That is why, routine handling from doctors and discipline in undergoing treatment are forms of action that need to be taken in the treatment of scleroderma.

Doctors usually advise scleroderma patients to live healthy behaviors, recommended therapy, and take regular medication.

However, these treatments are not always the same and are adjusted according to the symptoms and severity of each scleroderma patient.

In addition, scleroderma treatment also aims to put the patient in a phase of remission or a stable condition.

Although it cannot completely cure scleroderma, treatment is useful for reducing the effects and symptoms so that the patient's condition is better.

Treatment also helps prevent the function of the affected organs from getting worse.

7. Is it true that scleroderma is a contagious disease?

The answer, not. Scleroderma is not a contagious disease. So, this is just a scleroderma myth.

You don't have to worry about being close to a scleroderma patient.

If you do not have scleroderma, do not worry about being around a scleroderma patient because you will not catch the disease.

8. Myth or fact, scleroderma is a disease that runs in families?

The answer, not lowered directly. However, there is a genetic predisposition that runs in families.

You see, so far it has not been found definitively about the cause of scleroderma.

However, when a family member has scleroderma, other family members can acquire genetics that tend to lead to scleroderma.

This genetic predisposition may develop into scleroderma because there are triggers from environmental factors.

Environmental factors that can trigger a genetic predisposition include exposure to silica, viruses such as cytomegalovirus, herpes virus, and others.

To speed up scleroderma treatment, try not to ignore any symptoms you have.

The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner a diagnosis and treatment can be given.

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