Symptoms of Scleroderma

Symptoms of scleroderma include:

• ]]>Raynaud’s phenomenon]]> :
  • Changes in skin color of the fingertips, toes, and nose in response to cold or emotional stress
  • Skin usually turns very white when first exposed to cold, then blue, then very red
  • May be accompanied by pain, tingling, numbness
• Sores or ulcers on the fingers
• Changes in the skin, as areas of affected skin lose hair and become:
  • Stiff
  • Hard
  • Thick
  • Shiny
  • Darker or lighter with darker spots (the so-called salt and pepper appearance)
• Skin over face may become so tight that it’s hard to change expression (face appears “mask-like”)
• Fingers and toes become swollen or puffy
• Whitish bumps of calcium deposits develop under the skin (calcinosis)
• Tiny purplish-red blood vessels appear under the skin (telangiectasias)
• Skin creases diminish or disappear
• ]]>Arthritis]]> (joint aches and stiffness)
• Muscle pain and weakness
• Dry eyes and mouth (called ]]>Sjögren’s syndrome]]> )
• Digestive problems:
  • ]]>Heartburn]]>
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • ]]>Constipation]]>
  • ]]>Diarrhea]]>
  • Poor absorption of nutrients, weight loss
  • Liver blockage, ]]>jaundice]]> (yellowish appearance to the whites of the eyes and the skin)
• Problems due to lung, heart, and kidney involvement:
  • Shortness of breath
  • Abnormal heart rhythms
  • Heart failure
  • ]]>High blood pressure]]>
  • ]]>Kidney failure]]>