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.
