What is Morphea scleroderma?

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, is a condition which causes hardening and discoloration of the skin. It is thought to be isolated to the skin without internal organ involvement as seen in systemic sclerosis (commonly known as scleroderma).

What causes Morphea scleroderma?

What causes morphea scleroderma? While the exact cause of morphea is unknown, potential contributing factors include an atypical reaction of the immune system, recent infection, repeated skin trauma, exposure to chemical toxins, or exposure to radiation.

Is Morphea scleroderma fatal?

Pansclerotic morphea can be localized to relatively small areas of the body or can involve large areas of the body. Severe cases of pansclerotic morphea can produce long-term disability and on rare occasion have resulted in death.

Is morphea serious?

Morphea is a rare skin condition that will usually only affect the appearance of the skin and will go away without treatment. However, in more severe cases, morphea can cause mobility issues or deformities. In children, morphea can cause eye damage and problems with limb growth and movement.

How is morphea treated?

Localized Scleroderma (Morphea)- Lisa Pappas-Taffer, M.D.- 2018 Patient Education Conference

What can trigger morphea?

The cause of morphea is unknown. It may be caused by an unusual reaction of your immune system. In people at increased risk of morphea, it could be triggered by injury to the affected area, medications, chemical toxins, an infection or radiation therapy. The condition isn't contagious.

How do you get rid of morphea naturally?

What does morphea look like when it starts?

In general, morphea causes discolored, thickened patches of skin that are oval in shape. The outer edge of the lesion may be lilac, and the patch itself is usually reddish in color. It gradually becomes white or yellow in color toward the center of the oval.

Does morphea cause weight gain?

Acute localized scleroderma (morphea) can present as severe generalized oedema with rapid weight gain and oliguria. The putative mechanism is increased capillary permeability.

What autoimmune disease causes morphea?

It is thought to be isolated to the skin without internal organ involvement as seen in systemic sclerosis (commonly known as scleroderma). Morphea is an autoimmune disorder (such as type I diabetes, lupus, vitiligo, or multiple sclerosis, among others).

What is the life expectancy of someone with scleroderma?

In general, patients with limited scleroderma have a normal life expectancy. Some have problems with their GI tract, especially heartburn; severe Raynaud's and musculoskeletal pain; and a small subset can develop pulmonary hypertension that can be life-threatening.

Where does scleroderma usually start?

The first parts of the body to be affected are usually the fingers, hands, feet and face. In some people, the skin thickening can also involve the forearms, upper arms, chest, abdomen, lower legs and thighs. Early symptoms may include swelling and itchiness.

Is morphea hereditary?

About half of all morphea patients are children, though the condition is not hereditary. Without treatment, the lesions often go away on their own within three to five years, but new lesions usually appear over a person's lifetime.

What happens if scleroderma is left untreated?

Scleroderma causes a restrictive ventilatory defect (small lungs) secondary to an inflammatory process in the lung alveoli (air sacs). This process, left untreated, leads to fibrosis of the lung tissue (a fibrosing alveolitis) that interferes with normal gas exchange from the air to the blood.

What should I avoid with scleroderma?

Avoid foods that may aggra- vate symptoms such as citrus fruits, tomato products, greasy fried foods, coffee, garlic, onions, peppermint, gas-producing foods (such as raw peppers, beans, broccoli or raw onions), spicy foods, carbonated beverages and alcohol.

Is Morphea scleroderma genetic?

Genetics plays a role in the disease, but it is not passed on from parents to children, and it's rare for immediate family members of those with scleroderma to get it. It is common for family members, however, to have other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Does scleroderma make you feel tired?

Our findings indicate that fatigue is common in scleroderma and that pain and fatigue are significant determinants of physical functioning for patients with limited and diffuse disease subtypes.

Can you drink coffee with scleroderma?

Reduce pasta and bread, carbohydrates, starch, sugar consumption. Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.

What is the best diet for scleroderma?

General Diet Recommendations:

Choose fresh, whole, minimally processed foods, without preservatives, artificial ingredients, or hydrogenated oils. If there are “chemical” sounding names in the ingredient list, avoid it. In general, the shorter the ingredient list, the better.

What is the difference between scleroderma and morphea?

Scleroderma is a disease of unknown origin that affects the microvasculature and loose connective tissues of the body and is characterized by fibrosis and obliteration of vessels in the skin, lungs, gut, kidneys and heart. Morphea is a localized form of scleroderma and affects primarily just the skin.

Can morphea be misdiagnosed?

Its clinical findings are diverse, ranging from erythematous to hypopigmented or hyperpigmented patches or plaques¹. Due to this variability, morphea may be misdiagnosed especially by non-dermatologists as pigmentary disorders such as vitiligo².

What vitamins are good for scleroderma?

Your doctor may recommend taking a multivitamin daily that has the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, the B-complex vitamins, and trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium. These supplements may help reduce some symptoms: Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 to 2 capsules or 1 to 3 tbsp.

Can morphea affect internal organs?

Morphea affects only the skin; it doesn't involve other organs.

What virus causes scleroderma?

One theory suggests that scleroderma is caused by a virus or other infection. For example, a common virus called CMV (cytomegalovirus) is known to infect cells (endothelial cells) that line our blood vessels, which we know are diseased in scleroderma (3).

Is scleroderma worse than lupus?

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have worse health-related quality of life than patients with other systemic rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a Korean study found.