Scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, is an autoimmune disease that results in the overproduction of collagen, causing your skin and connective tissues to tighten and harden. The term “scleroderma” consists of Greek words: “sclera” and “derma”, meaning hard and skin respectively. If you have scleroderma, your skin appearance and texture changes.
Collagen is an important structural protein that forms your skin. While the exact cause of excessive production of collagen is not clear, health experts link it to autoimmune disorders. When your immune system malfunctions, your body responds by producing excess collagen. Too much collagen causes skin thickening and tightening. It can also result in the formation of scars in your kidney and lungs. As a result, your blood vessels develop thickening, which affects their efficiency in transporting blood to various parts of your body.
These symptoms have the potential to lower the quality of your life; hence, contacting your doctor for scleroderma treatment is necessary.
1. Joint Pain
Joint pain is a feeling of discomfort that occurs in any of your joints. It usually occurs due to joint inflammation. Scleroderma causes the fluid in the tissues around the joints to increase in volume. The excess fluid causes your joints to swell and cause pain. Some of the affected joint structures include ligaments, cartilage, bones, tendons, and muscles. Scleroderma swelling mostly affects your fingers and toes. Depending on the severity and stage of the condition, the pain can range from mild to severe.
Typically, it begins as mild joint aches and worsens with time. Tenderness and soreness may accompany the pain. In some cases, the pain can be very severe and may hinder your normal movement. However, not every pain in the joints may signify scleroderma. The pain can be due to other underlying causes, including bone cancer, arthritis, Lyme disease, gout, leukemia, and underactive thyroid. If you experience joint pain that does not go away, you need medical help to determine why you have the pain.
2. Skin Rashes
Skin rashes are among the most common symptoms of localized scleroderma. They appear in the form of swollen red bumps. Typically, the rashes are itchy and may cause pain. Depending on the stage of scleroderma, the rashes can be mild, moderate, or severe. Although scratching the rashes can offer a temporary relief, it may cause swelling in the long run, causing the rashes to worsen.
Skin rashes can also result from other conditions, including dermatitis, psoriasis, and shingles. Allergies and certain medications may also cause your skin to develop rashes. Although some rashes may go away on their own, consult your doctor if rashes persistently attack your skin.
3. Swollen Blood Vessels
Excess collagen in the body causes narrowing in the blood vessels of your skin. The narrowing hinders proper blood movement in the vessels. As a result, the blood in the vessels moves slower than it should, causing pressure to build up in the vessels. When this happens, the vessels swell and increase in size.
Although you may not feel any pain, the swollen blood vessels may be a concern when they become noticeable. The vessels may also become tender. The vessels may even get worse when you expose your skin to low temperatures. Consult your doctor if you have swollen blood vessels under your skin.
4. Ulcers
Stomach ulcers are one of the digestive problems caused by systemic sclerosis. A stomach ulcer is a sore that affects the lining of your stomach, and it often causes stomach pain. When you develop scleroderma, the condition destroys the mucus that cushions the lining of your stomach against the digestive acids. Reduced stomach mucus exposes the stomach lining to corrosion from the acids, leading to ulcers.
Ulcers pain develops slowly and may worsen over time. The pain may worsen if you eat acidic foods, including citrus fruits. In some cases, the pain is accompanied with nausea and vomiting. Contact your doctor for help if you experience frequent stomach pain.
5. Acid Reflux
Acid reflux, also known as GERD, is the movement of the digestive acids from the stomach to the esophagus. If you have GERD, you will experience a burning sensation that radiates from your stomach towards the chest or throat. If you fail to get treatment early enough, acid reflux may cause esophageal damage through corrosion. This may cause a painful feeling. The pain worsens when you swallow food. Additionally, you may experience a sour taste in your mouth. This indicates the presence of acid.
It may be difficult to tell if GERD is caused by systemic sclerosis because the symptom has multiple causes. Hence, consultation with your doctor is highly recommended if you experience frequent acid reflux.
6. Chronic Cough
A chronic cough is a type of cough that occurs frequently for an extended period of time. Systemic sclerosis affects the normal functioning of your respiratory system by damaging your lungs. This causes chronic coughs. Coughs may also be triggered by GERD. If a chronic cough is not treated, it may worsen and cause complications, including difficulty breathing and chest pain.
If you have a cough that lasts for several weeks, you may also experience vomiting and wheezing. It may also lower the quality of your life by affecting your sleep habit. In more serious cases, a chronic cough may be accompanied with spitting of blood or sputum. If your cough becomes persistent, contact your doctor.
7. Weight Loss
Systemic sclerosis may cause damage to the intestinal muscles. The damaged muscles prevent proper movement of food in the intestines. This hinders proper absorption of nutrients into your blood stream. When your body fails to get enough nutrients due to poor absorption, weight loss becomes inevitable.
Additionally, systemic sclerosis may cause weight loss by affecting your appetite. The condition causes joint pain, stomach pain, and GERD. Typically, these symptoms are accompanied with pain. The pain causes body discomfort, leading to loss of appetite. GERD also affects your appetite by causing a sour taste in the mouth. If weight loss is not treated, it may lead to serious complications, including underweight and persistent body weakness.
8. Fatigue
When you have fatigue, you feel tired physically or mentally. The tiredness comes irrespective of how light your work is. Since your body lacks energy, you may also feel like sleeping frequently. Systemic sclerosis causes fatigue by affecting the absorption ability of your digestive system. Failure to absorb carbohydrates and other important nutrients deprives your body of energy. Additionally, loss of appetite caused by systemic sclerosis affects your ability to eat these nutrients, leading to lack of energy.
When you have fatigue, you will not have the energy needed to do work. Failure to do work may result in a poor lifestyle in the long run. Consult your doctor immediately you begin experiencing frequent and unexplained tiredness.
