Localized scleroderma: What you need to know

Scleroderma is characterized by proliferation and deposition of collagenous substances in the skin, blood vessel walls and many other organs of the body. This deposition causes consequences such as thickening of the skin, damage and impaired function of internal organs. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose early for treatment to help reduce recurrence and control the disease state, limiting dangerous complications.

Based on the location of the disease, scleroderma is divided into two main types, which are localized and systemic. Focal scleroderma is a condition that affects only one area of ​​the skin. Depending on the shape and depth of the lesion, it can be divided into several subtypes such as:
Platelet body Droplet body Deep stripe body. And systemic scleroderma is a condition that damages the entire skin with sclerosis, in the most common spots such as the face, hands, fingers ... in addition to lesions on the skin of the whole body, it can be damaged on other parts of the body. other organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, heart, lungs, kidneys and blood vessels.
Localized patchy scleroderma also known as morphea, a rare condition that causes painless discolored patches on. Usually the skin changes appear on the abdomen, chest or back, sometimes they appear on the face, arms or legs.
Focal scleroderma tends to affect the superficial layers of the skin. Some very uncommon forms can affect deeper tissues and limit the range of motion of the affected joints. Sometimes the plaques are concentrated or the patient has many plaques in many different locations, it is called widespread plaque.
Patchy scleroderma usually goes away on its own over time and can recur repeatedly.

At present, the cause of the disease is still unknown. Some ideas are related to immune, endocrine, genetic, living environment, infection factors... But still no hypothesis has been proven specifically.
Some factors related to the disease are determined such as gender, the disease affects women more than men; Age disease can occur at any age, but is most commonly seen between the ages of 2 and 14 years or the mid-40s.

Depending on the stage of the disease, there are different manifestations, including:
The patches appear on the skin with sclerosis, atrophy, scarring, change in color of the skin round or oval, usually from 1 in diameter. -20 cm. The most common location is on the body such as the abdomen, chest or back; then the limbs, especially the arms and legs. Initially, the appearance of red or purple burning may be mildly edematous, then the surface becomes smooth, changes color on the skin, often hyperpigmentation. Other symptoms may include hair loss, loss of sweat glands at the site of the lesion, often purple in color, and vasodilation. Usually this form affects only the skin, but sometimes it also affects the joints, making it difficult to move the joints.

Some complications can occur such as:
Psychological effects: Skin manifestations, especially discolored patches appearing on the face, arms or legs make the sufferer feel self-conscious. Mobility: May reduce range of motion in the arms and legs. Widespread areas of hard, darkened skin. Eye damage: Children with the disease present with head and neck damage that can cause permanent eye damage. The most dangerous complication of focal scleroderma is pulmonary hypertension.

When seeing suspicious manifestations, the doctor will conduct a skin biopsy to accurately identify focal plaque scleroderma, rule out other pathologies and especially need to distinguish it from generalized scleroderma. When the disease is identified, it can be treated as follows:
Currently, there is no method to completely treat the disease. In the active stage of the disease, it is possible to apply or inject intralesional corticosteroids, apply Calcipotriol, Tacrolimus 0.1%, Imiquimod 5% to reduce inflammation and stop progression. Light therapy: With severe Morphea, treatment may be with ultraviolet light. Typically, focal plaque scleroderma resolves spontaneously after 3-5 years.
Localized plaque scleroderma is a systemic disease that currently has no cure. However, early diagnosis for drug treatment can help reduce recurrence and control the disease, limiting dangerous complications.