Can you have morphea and scleroderma?
Morphea is sometimes referred to as “localized scleroderma”. However, despite their similar names, patients with morphea are not at increased risk of developing internal organ scleroderma involvement (systemic sclerosis). In morphea, the immune system mistakenly causes inflammation of the skin.
What’s 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.
What does morphea scleroderma look like?
Morphea is a rare skin condition characterized by small red or purple patches that develop firm white or ivory centers. The affected skin becomes tight and less flexible. Morphea (mor-FEE-uh) is a rare condition that causes painless, discolored patches on your skin.
What autoimmune disease causes morphea?
Morphea is an autoimmune disease that causes sclerosis, or scarlike, changes to the skin.
How rare is morphea scleroderma?
Morphea scleroderma is a rare skin disease thought to affect approximately 3 out of every 100,000 individuals.
What does morphea look like?
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.
What does Morphea look like?
What is Morphea scleroderma?
Morphea is a skin condition that causes patches of reddish skin that thicken into firm, oval-shaped areas. It is a form of scleroderma. Patches most often occur on the abdomen, stomach, and back, and sometimes on the face, arms and legs.
How do you get rid of morphea?
Treatment
- Medicated creams. Your doctor may prescribe a vitamin D cream, such as calcipotriene, to help soften the skin patches.
- Light therapy. For severe or widespread morphea, treatment may include the use of ultraviolet light (phototherapy).
- Oral medications.
- Physical therapy.
What kind of skin condition is morphea scleroderma?
Morphea scleroderma is a skin condition characterized by hardened, discolored, and thickened patches of skin on various areas of the body without internal organ involvement. The exact cause of morphea is unknown. However, it is considered an autoimmune disease and is associated with various predisposing factors.
How long does morphea disease last on the skin?
Morphea usually affects only the skin and underlying tissue but sometimes involves bone as well. The condition generally lasts several years and then disappears by itself. It may leave scars or areas of darkened or discolored skin.
How can a doctor tell if you have morphea disease?
Your doctor may diagnose morphea by examining the affected skin and asking you about your signs and symptoms. He or she may take a small sample of the affected skin (skin biopsy) for examination in the laboratory. This may reveal changes in your skin, such as thickening of a protein (collagen) in the second layer of skin (dermis).
Can a severe case of pansclerotic morphea cause death?
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.
