This is a long-term disease that happens when the immune system causes the body to make too much protein collagen. “We still don’t know exactly what causes the abnormal collagen production to begin, but the body’s immune system appears to play a role. But in many people, scleroderma also harms structures beyond the skin, such as blood vessels, internal organs and the digestive tract (systemic scleroderma). “Other symptoms include skin thickening, swelling and tightening, joint pain and calcium deposits in the skin or other areas. It’s sad that most of our patients are diagnosed late after the complications of skin thickening or hardening have set in, which at times are irreversible.

Source: Standard Digital January 25, 2021 06:00 UTC