What is Juvenile Scleroderma?
Scleroderma is a connective tissue disease involving skin, blood vessels and the immune system. In its systemic form, internal organ involvement can occur. Scleroderma means “hard skin”. Thickening and tightening of the skin occurs from a buildup of collagen* and other natural skin proteins which in turn is thought to be driven by a local inflammatory/immune response. (*Collagen – a fibrous protein made by cells that provides the firmness in the skin, forms the lining of organs, and is the basic structural protein in bones, tendons, ligaments, and joints). There are a variety of distinct and separate syndromes that result in scleroderma. Localized – not involving internal body systems. Localized is much more common in children than adults. • Morphea: patches of thickened, waxy, ivory, or yellow – white shiny lesions. • Generalized Morphea: the lesions are a combination of morphea and linear, and involve almost the entire skin. • Linear: thickened skin is in the pattern of a line down a
