Diabetic Rash Signs and Scleroderma

Did you know there are symptoms that may indicate you might have diabetes? One common indication that many individuals overlook are skin changes. Developing a rash that is darkened or raised on the skin is referred to as a diabetes rash. It is a warning sign and a doctor will give you a blood test to confirm his concerns.

Early diagnosis is important because it can lessen your risks of developing a full blown version of the disease. Although diabetes is often genetic, there are many preventative measures that you can take early on to limit its effect on your life. Different rashes have different indicators that you should be on the watch for. For example, be on the lookout for eczema and diabetes dermopathy. What does diabetes dermopathy look like? It often appears on the skin as dark, depressed spots. In most cases, it appears on the legs. Diabetes dermopathy can mix with dermatitis.

Another type of skin blemish that can signal the onset of diabetes is called Scleroderma Diabeticorum. This blemish usually appears as thickening skin on the back and the neck. Remember that many skin blemishes that are precursors to diabetes appear on the skin in the shape of rings or arcs. Blemishes generally appear on or around the chest, abdomen, fingers, legs, and/or ears. Blisters are also indicators that may appear on the toes and the fingers.

In some cases the formation of the rashes discussed in this article are caused by an allergic reaction or a change in insulin levels. Regardless of the exact cause, if you find yourself showing warning signs of one of these rashes, it would be prudent to consult a physician. A professional opinion is both wise and proactive to seek.

Rashes can also be due to many reasons such as insect bites, contact dermatitis or stress so don't draw any conclusions without proper analysis.

Find Out About Diabetes As Well As Common Rashes

Learn about Diabetic Rash Signs and Drug Rash issues.

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Thomas Addison an English Physician

ADDISON'S DISEASE (Addison's Anaemia, Addison-Schilder Disease)

Addison's disease is a rare endocrine or hormonal disorder resulting from primary adrenal insufficiency. The disease is characterized by weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, hypotension and increased skin pigmentation. It may occur after severe infection, massive adrenal bleeding, amyloidosis or surgical removal of the adrenal glands. Mostly the cause is unknown.

Thomas Addison was born in Long Beaton, near Newcastle in 1793, the same year that Marie Antoinette was found guilty of treason and was beheaded on the guillotine. He chose a remarkably similar career path to Hodgkins (Hodgkin's Disease) and Bright (Bright's Disease), graduating from Edinburgh University (1815), and then moving back to London to pursue a medical career at Guy's Hospital for the Incurables (1820). This hospital was founded in 1726, mainly as an overflow hospital for the neighbouring St Thomas's, which was working beyond its capacity. It maintained an emphasis on materia medica and medical treatment rather than on surgery, which remained the St Thomas's speciality. Addison was appointed assistant physician to the hospital in 1824, and lecturer in charge of materia medica three years later. It was 1827, the same year that Ludwig Beethoven died in Vienna following complications of pneumonia and dropsy.

Of passing interest is the fact that Addison like Beethoven, suffered from severe depression, developed deafness and was a brilliant teacher. But the similarity ends there. In 1802, Beethoven wrote the famous "Heiligenstädter Testament" to his two brothers, in which he confessed his misery and his wish to commit suicide. He of course recovered, but Addison's depression deteriorated and it is less known that he eventually committed suicide by jumping out of an upstairs window and fracturing his skull. Addison remained shy and introspective and consequently built up a poor practice. He pioneered worked on the adrenal glands and in 1849, noted that tuberculosis was found at autopsy in 70 to 90 percent of cases of adrenal insufficiency. In 1855, he published a controversial paper on 'the constitutional and local effects of the suprarenal capsule', to which many Scottish physicians, particularly Bennett disagreed with the findings.

It was largely because of Trousseau (Trousseau's Sign) that the paper was eventually validated and this physician is remembered for calling the disease of adrenal insufficiency after Thomas Addison. He is also accredited for giving medical eponyms to both Graves and Hodgkin's disease. Addison worked with many famous physicians during his period in Guy's, including William Gull (Gull's disease), with whom he first described the condition xanthoma diabeticorum. We remember Gull for describing the condition of hypothyroidism and for unsuccessfully treating Prince Albert after he contracted typhoid in 1861.Queen Victoria never recovered from her grief after his death and withdrew from social activities and dressed in black for many years thereafter. He also worked with Bright (Bright's disease), with whom he tried to publish a medical text and is remembered for having contributed to most of the work on the volume.

He was the first doctor to describe circumscribed scleroderma, which is still known as Addison's keloid in some parts of the world. He was also the first doctor to show that pneumonia occurred in the alveolar tissue and not in the interstitial cells. He described the progressive dysfunction of the adrenal gland associated with changes in brain tissue. This condition was later researched by the Austrian neurologist Schilder who noted loss of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells in the brain and the condition became known as Adrenoleukodystrophy or Addison -Schilder Disease.

Addison jumped to his death in 1860, the same year that Senator William Gwin of California and William H. Russell, of Missouri businessman bought 400 fast horses, hired 80 riders, and established the Pony Express Service.

Who am I?

South African Physician who graduated from Edinburgh and served with the RAMC in Africa during the First World War. In 1937 he became Professor of Medicine in Cairo on the advice of Sir Alexander Fleming. He died in London in 1959 and is remembered for giving his name to an autosomal nephritis associated with nerve deafness.

A.C. Alport

Dr. Patrick Treacy is a cosmetic expert. He is Medical Director of Ailesbury Clinics Ltd and the global Cosmetic Medical Group. He is Chairman of the Irish Association of Cosmetic Doctors and is Irish Regional Representative of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors. He is European Medical Advisor to Network Lipolysis and the UK's largest cosmetic website Consulting Rooms. He practices cosmetic medicine in his clinics in Dublin, Cork, London and the Middle East.

Dr. Treacy is on the Specialist Register in the UK and Ireland and holds higher qualifications in Dermatology and Laser technology and skin resurfacing. He was amongst the first doctors worldwide to use the permanent facial endoprosthesis BioAlcamid for HIV Lipodystrophy patients. He was also the first person to introduce many techniques such as Radiofrequency assisted lasers, Fibroblast transplant and Contour Threads to Irish patients.

Dr. Treacy is an advanced Botox, Dysport and Dermal filler trainer and has trained over 300 doctors and nurses from around the world. He is also a renowned international guest speaker and features regularly on national television and radio programmes. He was invited to speak about stem cells and cosmetic medicine at the World Aesthetic Conference in Moscow this year.

The Irish College of Cosmetic Doctors
The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors
The British Medical Laser Association
The American Society for Aesthetic Medicine
The American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery The European Society of Laser Dermatology
The European Society for Dermatological Surgery (ESDS)
The International Society for Dermatologic Surgery
The International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology

Dr. Treacy is the European Representative for the NetWork-Lipolysis where he is on the Medical Advisory Board and the Scientific Advisory Board. Ailesbury Clinics Ltd Suite 6 Merrion Road Ailesbury Road Dublin 4 Ireland
Ailesbury Clinic
Phone +35312692255/2133 Fax +35312692250
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Lupus Erythematosus Skin Disorders

Hyperthyroidism.

Autoimmune thyroid disease of the hypermetabolic type (Graves disease) is reflected by several visible changes. The skin is soft and moist. Scalp hair is thin in diameter, and evidence of diffuse alopecia may be present. Vitiligo occurs in 5% to 10%, and alopecia areata occurs in 1 % or 2% of the patients. Onycholysis of the fingernails is sometimes seen. Late in the course of the disease a few patients develop a peculiar form of clubbing (thyroid acropachy) or pretibial myxedema. The latter consists of thickened, pebbly, skin-colored plaques over the lower anterior shins. These plaques are usually asymptomatic.

Diabetes Mellitus

Patients with diabetes mellitus may develop a number of cutaneous changes. The yellow plaques of necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum most often located on the anterior shins, are the most distinctive of these changes.Small, hypopigmented, slightly depressed scars (diabetic dermopathy) are also occasionally found on the anterior lower legs. These lesions probably represent obliterative small vessel disease in an area prone to trauma. Bullous lesions somewhat similar in appearance to those of pemphigoid may arise from otherwise normal-appearing skin around the feet and ankles. The cause of these blisters is unknown. Eruptive xanthomas consisting of small, smooth, pink, dome-shaped papules may appear in a sudden shower of lesions in those whose diabetes is grossly out of control. Staphylococcal bacterial infections and candidal yeast infections are seen with increased frequency in diabetic persons. Diabetes is also associated with a variety of other cutaneous and medical conditions.

Neurofibromatosis

The presence of sharply marginated, light brown patches (cafe-au-lait patches) is often the first clue to the presence of von Recklinghausen's disease . In late childhood or during the teenage years, axillary freckling and cutaneous neurofibromas begin to develop. The latter are soft, smooth-surfaced, peduncuated papules 0.5 to 2 cm in diameter. They vary in number from several to hundreds and are distributed randomly over the trunk and extremities. Patients with the most severe forms of neurofibromatosis may develop large, grotesque, sack-like plexiform neuromas. A small proportion of these latter lesions undergo sarcomatous degeneration.

Tuberous Sclerosis

The earliest sign of tuberous sclerosis is generally the presence of small, faint white, oval patches (ash leaf spots) scattered randomly on the trunk and extremities . These lesions may be present at birth or may develop in early childhood. One or more thickened skin-colored plaques (shagreen plaques) may appear on the lower back in late childhood. Towards puberty, pinhead-sized, smooth, red, dome-shaped papules (adenoma sebaceum) begin to emerge on the central portion of the face. The upper lip is spared. Such lesions are easily mistaken for acne papules. Finally, in adult life, small, firm, skin-colored, subungual or periungual fibromas may be noted.

Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome.

This dominantly inherited condition is characterized by the presence of small brown or blackfreckles that appear in clusters on and around the lips and on the fingertips. These pigmentary changes are accompanied by the development of intestinal polyps. Carcinomatous degeneration of these polyps is not common but does occur.

Osler-Weber-Reudu Syndrome

This dominantly inherited condition, also known as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, is characterized by the presence of small, dusky red, clustered manlles on the fingertips, lips, and mucosal surfaces. These macules are composed of multiple telangiectatic vessels that blanch on pressure. Lesions similar to these may also .occur in patients with the CRST (calcification, Raynaud's phenomenon, scleroderma, and telangiectasia) variant of scleroderma. Patients with this disease have recurrent episodes of epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding. Arteriovenous fistulae are sometimes present in the lungs and liver.

Looking for more information about beauty skin care and skin conditions? Also, know more about rare skin diseases

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Help Your Disease and Sickness With Nutrition

Who is at risk for getting autoimmune diseases? Women tend to be affected more often by autoimmune disorders; nearly 79% of autoimmune disease patients in the USA are women.These diseases can affect connective tissue in your body (the tissue which binds together body tissues and organs).Autoimmune disorders are diseases caused by the body producing an inappropriate immune response against its own tissues. Autoimmune disorders fall into two general types: those that damage many organs (systemic autoimmune diseases) and those where only a single organ or tissue is directly damaged by the autoimmune process (localized).

Autoimmune diseases: A group of disorders in which the primary cause is the anti inflammatory reaction caused by the bodies own immune system attacking tissues. Autoimmune diseases tend to cluster in families and in individuals (a person with one autoimmune disease is more likely to get another), which indicates that common mechanisms are involved in disease susceptibility. Autoimmunity is not contagious, but the genes a child inherits from parents can influence whether a child will develop autoimmune conditions. In autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, pernicious anemia, myasthenia gravis, and Hashimoto's disease, specific cells uncontrollably attack the body's own tissues. Approximately 75 percent of autoimmune diseases occur in women, most frequently during the childbearing years and do not spread to other people like infections. Women have fatigue, stiffness and weakness when suffering from a autoimmune disease. There is a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases is seen in winter months as people stay indoors and the air is dry, stale & exposure to viruses indoor.

Autoimmune diseases are workable in day to day activities to make you feel better. First, eat a healthy diet. Give your immune system a boost and be as healthy as you can be! The list of nutrients that you need for a healthy immune system is long. The body is made up largely of proteins, so its health depends upon its freedom from damage (as through oxidation or glycation) and upon its timely removal as part of normal protein turnover. Always consult your own doctor if you are in any way concerned about your health.

Your body's immune system protects you from disease and infection. One of the ways your immune system rebuilds itself is through sleeping and is a great way you can help both your body and mind. Rest allows your body tissues and joints the time they need to repair. The immune system is the body's most specialized defense mechanism. In a healthy body, circulating antibodies attack and destroy pathogenic invaders. The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms and control the autoimmune process while maintaining the body's ability to fight disease. Most patients need supplements to replenish a hormone or vitamin that the body is lacking. The body's antioxidant system and other lines of defense cannot completely protect proteins. Nature's second line of defense is the body's system for repairing or removing damaged proteins. While some protein repair mechanisms exist, it is difficult for the body to repair most protein damage. It can be compared to a piece of metal rusting and results from the action of damaging molecules known as free radicals that are a natural byproduct of the body's metabolism.

It has also been suggested that the slight exchange of cells between mothers and their children during pregnancy may induce autoimmunity. Overexposure to pesticides and toxins may also induce autoimmunity. Your immune system can be boosted by changes made in eating and exercise routines.

Nutritionists recommend a diet high in fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, brown rice, low-fat dairy products, fish and poultry. Nutrition and nutritional status can have profound effects on immune functions, resistance to infection and autoimmunity in humans. Alternative treatments including natural medicine and nutritional therapy have been shown to have an impact on the activity of the disease. As patients with scleroderma sometimes develop gastrointestinal problems and are needed intravenous nutrition of long duration, they should be paid attention to lack of trace elements that can be a cause of hematologic complications.

What we come back to is that we need to take care of our health in every way possible. Anybody can take supplements whether you are sick or not. Good nutrition is a necessity for every human being on this earth!

Quality of life is important for those afflicted with an immune system disease and Chuck Arnone can guide them to some useful information!

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Scleroderma the Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Scleroderma, an autoimmune disease of the connective tissue, is characterized by the formation of scar tissue in the skin and organs of the body. While the cause of scleroderma is not known, genetic and environmental factors are known to play an important role in its occurrence. This disease, which is more frequent in females than in males, can be divided into two major groups, diffuse and limited, depending upon the degree and location of skin involvement. The diffuse type, also known as systemic sclerosis, is more widespread over the body and also involves internal organs.

Autoimmune diseases are illnesses which occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The Ayurvedic treatment of scleroderma hence first focuses on regulating the immune system by using medicines like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Pippali (Piper longum), Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata) and Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia).

Since fibrosis (scar formation) is the hallmark of this disease, the next obvious principle of treatment is reduction or reversal of fibrosis, wherever present in the body. For this, medicines used are: Punarnavadi Guggulu, Gokshuradi Guggulu, Rasayan Vati, Arogya Vardhini, Yashtimadhuk, Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Guduchi, Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Musta (Cyperus rotundus) and Patol (Tricosanthe dioica).

In addition, patients need to be treated for the specific tissue, organ or system involvement that they are suffering from. Involvement of the skin causes redness, swelling, itching and pain; and gradually leads to skin hardening and limitation of movement. These symptoms can be treated using local ointments and medicines like Arogya Vardhini, Kaishor Guggulu, Yashtimadhuk, Manjishtha, Guduchi and Gokshur. Scleroderma causes acid reflux in the esophagus (food pipe) causing heartburn. This can be treated using medicines like Shankh Bhasma, Kamdudha Vati and Laghu Sutshekhar, in addition to taking appropriate preventive measures.

Scleroderma frequently causes Reynaud's phenomenon, a condition in which the tips of fingers, toes, nose, tongue and ears turn blue, white and then red after exposure to cold, heat or even with an emotional upset. Scleroderma also causes the capillaries of the face, lips, mouth and fingers to dilate, creating tiny, red, blanching spots called telangiectasias. Both these conditions can be treated using medicines like Tapyadi Loha, Manjishtha and Saariva. A highly elevated blood pressure is best treated with modern anti-hypertensive medications.

Inflammation of the lungs can be treated using medicines like Kantakari (Solanum surattense), Brihat Kantakari (Solanum indicum), Behada (Terminalia bellerica), Yashtimadhuk, Pippali, Pushkarmool (Inula racemosa) and Sitopaadi Churna. By affecting the large bowel, scleroderma can cause either severe constipation or diarrhea. These conditions can be treated using medicines like Triphala (Three fruits), Kutki, Psyllium (Plantago ovata), Musta and Kutaj.

Scleroderma is a medical condition with a lot of unanswered questions. The conventional management of scleroderma is directed towards treating the individual features that are most troublesome. The addition of Ayurvedic treatment can definitely help to reverse the basic pathology, and improve the overall outlook of this disease.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com

The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi uses high quality herbal extracts in tablet form, which are easy to take, effective and safe for long-term use.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of 23 years and clinical research experience of 9 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.

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What Is Scleroderma

What Are The Symptoms Of Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease which is shown by hardening or sclerosis most commonly in the skin but could also show in other organs. Being an autoimmune disease, it happens when the body’s tissues are being attacked by its own immune system. The most visible sign of scleroderma is the formation of scar tissue in the skin or in the affected area which would lead to having that area being much firmer and thicker. When scleroderma happens to different parts of the body all at the same time, it could be referred to as systematic sclerosis.

Systematic sclerosis can be fatal as it could result to kidney, heart, intestinal or lung damage. The other form of sclerosis which is known as morphea would tend not to be fatal but could cripple and affected individual.

What Causes It?

As of now, there is no known cause for scleroderma. Some would say that genes would play a heavy role and others would say that it is more environmental than it is genetic. Since genes are said to play a role in this, inheritance also has its part therefore, it would not be unusual to find other relatives of a scleroderma patient to be later on affected with it. Scleroderma also occurs more in females than it does on males.

Although there is no definite cause of scleroderma, there are various theories that can be relied on in basis of scleroderma treatment. Since it is so, every treatment for scleroderma is patient specific and are only made to alleviate a patient for symptoms like relief from pain, cure for hardening skin and other specific symptoms. Hardening of the skin has been treated many times successfully with the use of PUVA, d-penicllamine and cyclosporine.

How Do You Know You Have It?

Symptoms of scleroderma are rather unique and you would know immediately if you have it if some of the symptoms would show. If you have scar tissues couple with pain on some parts of your skin most commonly being the knees and elbows then it is mostly sure that you have scleroderma. Take note that this does not develop immediately but rather over time, if you have it in some parts of the skin, it could still spread or develop into another illness.

If you show any symptoms of it, then you should see your doctor immediately to get diagnosed. The diagnosis of this disease is based on clinical findings of the illness. Most likely, your doctor would have you undergo a blood test to see how your antibodies are affecting you. Other tests would include gastrointestinal tests to see how bowel movement is, lung function testing, x-rays, and test to see how the heart is doing.

Scleroderma Treatment

Since scleroderma has no known cause, treatment for it is aimed towards relieving a patient of specific symptoms rather than in attempt to entirely relieve the patient for scleroderma. Being that, a patient who has it is some organs would be treated only to relieve him or her from the symptoms it would bring about.

Since scleroderma is an autoimmune disease, some of the most common approaches for it would involve the use of immunosuppressive agents such as azathioprene, mycophenolate and methotrexate. As for patients whose lungs would get involved, they could benefit from oxygen therapy which could relieve them from shortness of breath and increase blood oxygen level of which they are most likely deprived of.

Treatments For Scleroderma

How Is Scleroderma Treated?

As of today, there is no known cure for scleroderma. Medications that are prescribed are made to cure a patient of symptoms brought about by scleroderma and not to cure scleroderma itself. This is because scleroderma does not have a known cause and with that, doctors go by various theories in knowing what causes it. Some would say that it is very much genetic and others might say that it is caused by unwanted factors in the environment such as viruses and bacteria. None of these theories however are proven to be correct.

Because there is no specific medicine that would cure scleroderma, scleroderma treatment is patient-specific and is usually catered for a single organ or an affected area like for example; a patient who has a heart problem caused by scleroderma would take medications that would relieve him or her from those or a patient with lung problems would go through therapy to restore normal lung activity.

Diagnosing Scleroderma

If spots or thick spots would occur on your skin coupled by limitation in the function of some of your organs, then you could be a victim of scleroderma. With this, your doctor would have you undergo some physical tests for him to be able to know what approaches should be taken in treating your condition and what medications you would be needing if you need any.

Most of the time, diagnosis for scleroderma is started with a blood test for the doctor to see how your antibodies are doing, since scleroderma is an autoimmune illness it refers to having the antibodies attack the tissue instead of protecting it. Through different ways of diagnosis depending on which areas are affected, the doctor should be able to know what you will need or how you will be able to manage with your condition.

Medications For Scleroderma

Scleroderma can bring about inflammation in different organs that would cause pain or discomfort so to relieve a patient from this, a doctor could prescribe him or her anti-inflammatory medicines this of which would include corticosteroids or ibuprofen. Depending on the case, some would need to be more careful about administrating them and others would need them along with therapy.

Another popular approach in treating scleroderma would be by the use of immunosuppressive therapy since scleroderma’s main concept is a dysfunction in the immune system and immunosuppressive medications basically limit the effects of the immune system to the body. There have been several drugs that have been made in attempt to do this however, only a few have been proven to do this effectively those of which are cyclophosphamide, antithymocite globulin, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine and methotrexate.

Things To Be Aware Of

While medicine can be taken to relieve a patient from the different sufferings brought about by scleroderma, you should be aware that these are only given to prevent further damage or to relieve specific symptoms. It is never in attempt to completely remove scleroderma in a patient and unfortunately, having a patient completely freed from scleroderma is still not very possible today. These medications however have been proven to give relief.

With that at hand, you should also be able to be in control of your condition. Since you have this, you should take care of yourself more. Ask your doctor about some things or activities that you can do for you to be able to manage living with scleroderma easier and abide by these.

Managing life with scleroderma might not be easy but it is very possible and it is the best way to enjoy life even with a condition.

Systemic Sclerosis Diagnosis And Treatment

Definition

Scleroderma comes mainly in two forms, the localized form of which would only affect a single area and another from which would affect internal organs known as systemic sclerosis. The localized form is also known as “morphea” and although it could disable a patient, it would not be fatal most of the time. Systematic sclerosis however, since it interferes with the internal organs and their functions would be fatal most of the time. Common cases of death from systemic sclerosis are renal and lung related cases.

Scleroderma occurs when your antibodies would attack your tissues instead of protecting them that in turn would lead to the development of scar tissue on the affected areas or thicken it. Women are four times more likely to develop this disease than men are and it usually develops within 30 to 40 years of age. This disease is inherent in the Native American Choctaw race and African-American women and rarely occurs to North Asians. It also rarely occurs in children.

What Can Cause Systemic Sclerosis?

It is known that scleroderma is an autoimmune disease however, only part of the pathogenesis is understood and because of that, medical experts have developed various theories that would refer to the causes of scleroderma. One theory would say that scleroderma is largely environmental and is brought about by unwanted factors in the environment such as bacteria and viruses while another would say that it is genetic and with that, heredity plays a big role.

Some of the substances which are suspected to cause scleroderma are insecticides, epoxy resin, appetite suppressants, silicone implants, drugs and some amino acid compounds. One medical expert also said that the fetal matter left after pregnancy that is still running in the bloodstream can also cause systemic scleroderma. These theories however are not yet proven.

What Can Happen To A Systemic Sclerosis Patient?

A patient with systemic sclerosis can have limited functions in various organs at the same time, most of the time being with the heart, kidneys and lungs. With that, a patient will also show the illness through some visible factors that can be seen especially in the face, neck, fingers, elbows, knees and toenails. If not managed effectively, systemic sclerosis can spread onto other organs or could develop into another disease other than scleroderma.

When it comes to systemic sclerosis, renal and lung related problems are usually the common causes for mortalities. Pulmonary hypertension, which is one of the most common causes of deaths in systemic sclerosis accounts for about 12% of all deaths.

How Can Systemic Sclerosis Be Treated?

Since the cause of scleroderma is not yet known, there is also no known medication for scleroderma instead, the approach for treating systemic sclerosis is patient specific and would depend on which organs are affected by it. Treatment is also focused for limiting the damages done by scleroderma and for alleviating symptoms rather than completely remove scleroderma from a patient.

Treatment is usually done by medications that would vary depending on the case and on which organs are affected. Alternative medications are also given to people who cannot be helped or would develop side effects from the medications that were first taken. For some cases especially for those having problems with organ function, they would have to undergo therapy that would attempt to restore normal organ activity.