Treatments for Scleroderma

Unfortunately, there are no treatments available to cure scleroderma. Similarly, no treatments have been proven to slow the progression of the disease or modify its course, although a number of medications are often prescribed in the hopes that they will achieve this goal.

Goals of treatment include:

Treating existing symptoms, such as ]]>Raynaud’s phenomenon]]> , ]]>arthritis]]> , ]]>high blood pressure]]> , difficulty swallowing, among others.
Protecting the skin from further damage
Supporting you and your family so that you can learn to live with the effects of scleroderma

Treatment involves the following:

]]>Lifestyle changes]]>
]]>Medications]]>
]]>Other treatments]]>

At this time, there are no surgical procedures for the treatment of scleroderma.

References:

Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 15th ed. McGraw Hill; 2001.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/ .

Scleroderma Foundation website. Available at: http://www.scleroderma.org/ .

Last reviewed August 2008 by ]]>Ross Zeltser, MD, FAAD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.