What is scleroderma?

Also known as: juvenile scleroderma, localized scleroderma.

Scleroderma (hard skin) is a rare autoimmune disease where normal skin (usually, though other organ systems may be involved) is replaced by dense thick scar like tissue.

There are two types:

• Localized scleroderma, common in children, particularly girls, which may present as bands of thick white tissue or morphea-patches (with purple borders) in the skin plus damage to muscle, bones and joints.
• Systemic scleroderma (sclerosis) which is rare in children, more severe and involves internal organs as well as the skin.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM