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Scleroderma can cause skin swelling, abnormal scar tissue formation, skin hardening, and tightening. Limited, widespread, and Raynaud’s phenomenon are used to indicate the effects on the skin. The limited form is known as CREST syndrome, while the diffuse form can be life-threatening due to scar tissue formation in internal organs.
The effects of scleroderma on the skin include swelling, loss of normal color resulting in a pale complexion or a darker color than usual, a tingling sensation, abnormal formation of scar tissue on the outside and inside, and a shiny appearance of the skin. This ailment can also cause skin hardening and skin tightening. There are several types of ailment that are characterized by the specific effects it has on the skin and the severity of these effects.
“Limited”, “widespread” and “Raynaud’s phenomenon” are terms used to more precisely indicate the effects of scleroderma on the skin. When the disturbance is limited, only the skin of the hands is usually done. Sufferers of the limited version of the disorder may also experience Raynaud’s phenomenon, during which the fingers can suddenly start to tingle and lose their normal color. They may also suddenly become numb or achy if exposed to cold temperatures or if the individual gets angry or upset. The effects of scleroderma on the skin in cases of limited cutaneous sclerosis or scleroderma include the formation of calcium deposits anywhere in the body.
The limited form of scleroderma is often referred to by an acronym for its five characteristics. These features include calcinosis, Raynaud’s syndrome, and esophageal dysmotility, as well as sclerodactyly and telangiectasia. These form the acronym CREST, creating the term “CREST syndrome”.
If a person suffers from the diffuse form of the disorder, the effects of scleroderma on the skin can become extremely uncomfortable, greatly interfering with normal activity and even life threatening because the condition can progress anywhere in the body. The skin on the face can become so tight that the sufferer cannot control their facial expressions. Spider veins can appear on any part of the face, chest, and even the tongue, and calcium bumps or lumps can form on bony areas such as the fingers and toes, and joints. Wounds can erupt on the fingertips, knuckles, and wrists, and the elbows and fingers can get stuck in a flexed position due to scar tissue in the skin around those areas.
Among the effects of scleroderma on the skin is the formation of scar tissue within the internal organs, which is why the disorder can become life-threatening. Some of the organs that can be affected are the lungs, kidneys, heart, intestines and esophagus. Scar tissue may form at the lower end of the esophagus or food pipe and usually leads to great difficulty swallowing. Scar tissue can form on the intestinal lining interfering with the proper absorption of nutrients from food. Scar tissue buildup in the kidneys, lungs, and heart can easily cause damage to these organs and result in kidney or heart failure, constant shortness of breath, and possibly death. People who suspect that they are experiencing the effects of scleroderma on their skin are advised to visit a doctor immediately.
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