National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Scleroderma is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Scleroderma means hard skin. It is a group of diseases that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue, the proteins that support your skin and organs. There are two main types. Localized scleroderma affects only your skin. Systemic scleroderma affects your blood vessels and internal organs, as well as your skin.
Symptoms of scleroderma include
No one knows what causes scleroderma. It is more common in women. It can be mild or severe. There is no cure, but various treatments can relieve symptoms.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)