United for Scleroderma

JUNE IS SCLERODERMA AWARENESS MONTH

Scleroderma, sometimes called systemic sclerosis, is a rare chronic autoimmune disease. It is not contagious and there is no known cause or cure. According to the Scleroderma Foundation, it affects more than 300,000 people in the United States alone. Because scleroderma can be difficult to diagnose, many people are unaware of their condition for several years after developing symptoms. To help spread awareness about this disease and its effects on those living with it, June is recognized as Scleroderma Awareness Month.

Check this out! New column from our founder Sherlene Perkins

As symptoms of scleroderma speak, I reply, ‘Now what?’ In her debut column, Sherlene Perkins rounds up her symptoms of scleroderma and describes how she's handling them as a rare disease warrior.

JUNE IS SCLERODERMA AWARENESS MONTH

Early diagnosis is important because there are treatment options available. If you have scleroderma, you may be able to manage your symptoms with medications and lifestyle changes. But if the disease progresses without treatment, it can cause serious damage to internal organs such as the kidneys and heart.
Early diagnosis also allows doctors to begin a course of treatment right away, which could help delay or prevent complications like kidney damage. And because many people with scleroderma don't have symptoms until they're 40 years old or older (and symptoms sometimes go away), it's easy for these conditions to go unrecognized until it's too late.
Because of this risk factor, a doctor should be able to make an accurate diagnosis based on physical examination alone if they suspect scleroderma based on symptoms such as thickening skin that doesn't blanch under pressure (palpation). Early detection means early intervention and better medical care down the line.